VISAKHAPATNAM: At a time when several schools and other institutions are planning plays and dance performances to mark Independence Day, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Dasara, shops renting out costumes to theatre groups in the city are witnessing huge profits.After stage plays became fewer, these companies diverted their attention to people who occasionally required their help during street shows as well as schoolchildren participating in special programmes like Krishnashtami.Speaking to TOI, Killampalli Kanaka Raju, proprietor of Sri Sarada Drama Dress Company , said that his father Rambabu , who was the recipient for AP's Nandi Award, had established the shop 46 years ago for renting out costumes for stage plays."After television and cinema became popular among the people, stage shows gradually faded out," he said, adding that lack of support from the government and other stakeholders forced them to divert their customer base."Thankfully, some schools like Visakha Valley observe various occasions in a big way," Raju said.K Satyanand from another such company said that they charge anything between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 depending on the type of dress and materials required by the customer."Parents of corporate schools bring their children to get dressed as mythological characters like Lord Krishna and Radha. The government should inculcate such cultural activities in government schools too. It will help protect the cultural values and indirectly provide livelihood to people like us," said K Prasad from another dress company.

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