Traders and producers of have complained about falling prices Bodhichitta, a religious product, following disruptions at Tatopani and Kerung crossings of Nepal-China border.

Tatopani has remained shut since last year’s earthquake, while Kerung also witnesses disruptions time and again.

The traders are reluctant to buy the products, according to the farmers. Hirakaji Tamang, a resident of Kanpur-9, who sold Bodhichitta worth Rs1.5 million last year, said the demand has fallen significantly following the border disruptions. “I have unsold stocks worth Rs2 million,” said Tamang.

Bodhichitta is a holy tree, and according to Buddhism, Lord Buddha received enlightenment under the same tree. Bodhichitta beads are threaded to make rosaries which are used to count chants (mantras).

The beads originating in Nepal are in high demand because

they are considered to have high quality. The beads have their major markets of Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and the US, among other countries, where Buddhism has flourished as a way of life.

The traders said they have slashed purchases due to the falling prices.

Tersang Lama, a trader from Sasyukharka, said he was unable to sell Rs10 million worth of Bodhichitta garlands for which he has already paid to the farmers.

Shailendra Tamang, a trader involved in Bodhichitta trading for the last three years, however, attributed the fall in the prices to a surge in production.

According to officials statistics, Boldefediche, Thuloparchel, Chapakhori, Pokhari Narayansthan, Sasyukharka, Mechchhe, Methinkot and Kanpur VDCs are major Bodhichitta producers in the district. These VDCs reportedly sell the product worth Rs3 billion annually.