Latest news with #Jhola
Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Soaring food prices dampen traditional niyaz preparations in Hyderabad
With the advent of the holy month of Muharram, Azadari (mourning) rituals in the second biggest urban centre of Sindh are in full swing, as processions of zuljinah, alam, tazia and Jhola mark the city's religious landscape. Alongside these commemorations, the preparation and distribution of nazr and niyaz have also reached their peak. However, a steep rise in the prices of essential food items, particularly spices, meat, and firewood, has forced many community members to turn to catering services instead of preparing meals at home. Organisers of large-scale niyaz say runaway prices have made it financially unviable to cook at home. As a result, they are placing orders at local cooking centres for ready-to-serve meals to distribute among mourners. Traditionally, the first 10 days of Muharram witness the highest volume of niyaz distribution in Hyderabad, with a variety of food items, including biryani, haleem, sweets, etc, served across the city. This year, however, people are feeling the pinch. The prices of staple dishes have seen a sharp increase. The cost of a 10kg deg of chicken biryani has jumped from Rs10,000-12,000 to Rs15,000-16,000, while a beef biryani deg of the same quantity now costs between Rs20,000 and Rs22,000 — a significant rise from last year's Rs15,000-16,000. Haleem has also become more expensive. A 100kg haleem deg that used to cost around Rs17,000 is now being sold at Rs22,000 to Rs25,000 by catering services. Meanwhile, some have shifted to distributing simpler food items such as dal-roti, halwas, and channa.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Viral: US brand is selling Indian Jhola for a pricey ‘souvenir' and you won't believe how much it costs!
You might have scratched your head after scrolling through the price section of Balenciaga's absurd offerings (Re: destroyed sneakers, trash tote bags, Lay's chips packet bag), and thought that nothing else could get weirder. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it already has! Prepare to be more shell-shocked as the extremely ordinary Indian Jhola has gotten a global glow-up and made its debut in the international market – with a staggering price! How much does it, you ask? Read on to find out. When Jhola becomes 'Indian Souvenir Bag': 'Tis the era of the glow-up of an ordinary Jhola! What is a Jhola? The jhola is a basic cloth bag commonly used in Indian homes for going shopping, running errands, and travel purposes. In India, the jhola is known for being quite affordable, practical, and eco-friendly, often costing less than Rs 100. In fact, some stores also offer them for free with shopping for some other stuff. However, the same jhola is currently being offered for $48 (more than Rs 4,100/-) on the website of luxury retailer Nordstrom! The global glow-up of humble jhola: $48 for a single jhola, that's available in India in less than Rs. 100? Seems unbelievable! However, it's true, as images of this modest 'jhola' being priced so highly have gone viral on social media. But that's not all. The jhola has been rebranded by the Japanese company Puebco as the 'Indian Souvenir Bag,' as noted on Nordstrom's site. Nordstrom describes the jhola as a 'chic bag, embellished with distinctive designs' that allows you to 'take a bit of India with you.' The description also mentions its handcrafted nature while cautioning buyers about potential color fading and printing imperfections. Regarding its design, the simple white cotton bag features Hindi text such as 'Ramesh Special Namkeen' and 'Chetak Sweets.' 'It's ideal for carrying your necessities while showcasing your admiration for a beautiful country. An essential item for any traveler or enthusiast of Indian culture,' states the description of the 'Indian souvenir bag.' Social media reacts: For many Indians, what is simply the everyday grocery bag they've used for years, being typically handed out free with purchases in local Indian markets, is now being positioned as a fashion statement overseas. Of course, social media is having a field day! Sharing a video, an Instagram user named @nishapash wrote, 'Next it's gonna be some 'spiced and crisped snacks'. But we know that it's just Haldirams. (don't confuse this with inclusivity).' Another internet user posted on X, 'What in the name of scam is this!! Jhola being sold at a premium department store Nordstrom for $48! I'm a homesick person but even I haven't reached these levels of nostalgia.' A third user commented, "Indian aesthetics are taking over," while another chimed in, mentioning, 'The third user wrote, "Typical colonizer behavior rehashing stolen ideas." The netizens didn't stop there. While one internet user predicted yet another globalization, saying, 'They will literally start selling lungi and mention as a scottish drape,' another saw a legit business opportunity amidst all these chatters, and asked, 'How can I sell? I have like 10 of these at home.' Cute: This dog is so pleased with himself
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Why a Rs 100 jhola selling for Rs 4000 abroad has sparked peak meme chaos in India
Move over Gucci and Dior, there is a new luxury item in town, and it smells faintly of turmeric and nostalgia. The classic Indian jhola, that ever-loyal cloth bag your dad used to carry onions in, has just had its global glow-up. Once sold for Rs 100 at Indian roadside stalls (or sometimes thrown in free with your month's groceries), this unassuming shoulder bag is now listed for a jaw-dropping Rs 4,000 on the website of high-end US department store Nordstrom. What in the name of scam is this!! Jhola being sold at a premium department store Nordstrom for $48! 😭😭I'm a homesick person but even I haven't reached these levels of nostalgia. Viral jhola costs Rs 4,000, and the internet definitely had thoughts Yes, you read that right. A plain cotton jhola is now moonlighting as a 'woven tote' and retailing for $48 in the West. The same jhola that has seen more college protests, local train rides, and ration trips than most designer bags could ever dream of. Indian Kirana store Jhola is being sold at premium stores now. 😂Gazab! The mayhem began when an Indian user spotted the listing and posted it online, expressing disbelief that homesickness had not driven them to this level of desperation, yet. The post lit a meme-fire across the internet, with desis laughing, crying, and plotting potential business models. Baniya ka Jhola is being sold in Western Countries as a premium tote bag for 48 Dollars 💶! Crazy 😝 Someone joked that a certain Indian sweet shop should sue Nordstrom for stealing their freebie design. Another wondered whether the bags are secretly being mass-produced in China, while a third boldly pitched a startup idea: 'Export jholas by the kilo.' Honestly, where is Shark Tank India when you need it? One of the best and economical advertisements on Indian history .You will find this jhola/Carry bag in every Indian city , many people use it while travelling , by spending just few rupees on Bag manufacturing , company is reaching to every nook and corner of the The jhola scandal is not the first one The jhola scandal is not a one-off incident. Remember Maggi? The 15-rupee lifesaver in every Indian hostel? Well, it has been spotted in UK supermarkets for Rs 300. A Rs 10 Good Day biscuit? Try Rs 100. Alphonso mangoes? Rs 2,400 for six. Somewhere, an aunty is weeping into her achar stash. LMAO not Americans selling ₹80 Indian jholas for $48 like it's some ancient artifact 💀'Indian Souvenir Bag'?? Really!? Bro that's a namkeen wala thaila!Colonize the culture, rename it, overcharge for it, and still have the audacity to be racist to the people who actually… Harsh Goenka reacts Even tycoon Harsh Goenka has had enough, cheekily observing how NRIs now pay more for haldi and hing than for a bottle of good wine, all while being served butter chicken by chefs who sound like they studied in Tuscany. Humara Indian bidi wala jhola international ho gaya The jhola's sudden leap into the world of high fashion feels like a love letter to Indian frugality, or maybe just a capitalist remix. Either way, one thing is clear: what was once functional, affordable and unfussy has now been rebranded as chic, artisanal and... ridiculously overpriced. So next time you see someone carrying a jhola abroad, do not laugh. That is not a bag. That is Rs 4,000 worth of cultural appropriation, nostalgia tax, and a whole lot of desi drama stitched into one cotton rectangle.
