Video: Balloon Seller at Fair Opens Up About His Daily Earnings and Struggles, Explains the System

During festive seasons like Navratri, Dussehra, and Ramlila, various fairs are organized across the country, bustling with giant wheels, toy shops, and food stalls. Among them, balloon sellers can often be seen wandering around. While many people ignore their requests to buy a balloon, assuming it is an easy way to make quick money during peak crowds, the reality of their daily struggle is far more complex.

The Bitter Truth of Inside vs. Outside Fairgrounds

Securing a spot inside a fairground is not easy for a balloon seller. Vendors have to pay hefty commissions or daily rental fees to management contractors. To avoid these high costs, many sellers choose to set up their temporary stalls just outside the fair boundaries. Even outside, they often have to pay local organizers or committees around 300 to 500 rupees to operate.

During a recent visit outside a Ramlila fair at Noida Stadium, a vendor named Brajmohan shared the complete arithmetic of his profession. Originally from Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, Brajmohan travels from one city to another—including Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Delhi—wherever a fair is hosted. He explained that setting up inside the stadium costs around 1,500 rupees per day, which is unaffordable for him. Instead, he pays a local fee of 300 rupees to set up right by the roadside.

Daily Hard Work and Earnings

Brajmohan spends his entire day inflating balloons and arranging toys. By the time the fair peaks in the evening, he sells balloons and small items until late at night. Selling pairs of balloons for 50 rupees, his daily earnings typically range between 1,000 and 1,500 rupees, occasionally touching 2,000 to 2,500 rupees on exceptionally good days.

Next time you encounter a balloon seller at the entrance of a fair, understanding their journey and hard work might make you look at their earnest request a little differently.