Lucknow: Prathamesh Misra, a parent of a Class IV student at a prominent private school in the city, spent Rs 6,500 on costumes and accessories between Aug and Oct, against his child’s quarterly school fee of Rs 4,500.From Independence Day performances and Janmashtami celebrations to Navratri activities and the annual day, school events have added to parents’ expenses during the festive season.“During the festive season, it becomes a burden that we cannot ignore because our child needs exposure to the stage. From Independence Day to Navratri, I spent around Rs 3,000 on costumes. My son portrayed Bhagat Singh on Independence Day, dressed as Lord Krishna for Janmashtami and wore a Gujarati outfit for Navratri. For the annual day skit, I spent another Rs 3,500 on his costume and accessories,” said Misra.He is not the only one. Parents across several prominent private schools in the city said expenses on activity-specific clothing, props and accessories often exceed their expectations, with some spending more on school events than on school fees.Neha Srivastava, a parent of a Class II student, said she spent nearly Rs 4,000 on costumes for Janmashtami, Navratri and the school’s annual day, while her child’s quarterly fee is Rs 5,000.“I went around the city, visited different shops and compared prices, only to finally find the most affordable option in Aminabad. It is not just about buying a costume; we have to make sure it matches the school’s theme, fits the child and looks presentable on stage. Renting is an option, but even then, the choices are limited and children want to look as good as their classmates,” she said.She added that the annual day brought another set of expenses, as her daughter had to participate in the western music choir and play a princess in a Hindi play, requiring formal clothes in her size and a separate costume.“From Aug to Oct, I have been running around Lucknow to meet the school’s requirements. Every time I think the expenses are over, another activity comes up. It is not just the money but the time spent searching for specific outfits that makes it difficult to manage,” she said.Similarly, Amit Verma, a parent of a Class V student, said he spent around Rs 7,000 on costumes and accessories over three months, despite renting outfits. He said participation in school activities was mandatory, leaving parents with little choice but to arrange the required costumes. Renting a Subhas Chandra Bose costume with round spectacles cost him Rs 1,500, saving only Rs 500 compared with buying it.For the annual day, his son played Lord Hanuman, with the rented costume, including a gada, tail and mukut, costing Rs 3,000 for just two hours of use. Another Rs 2,500 went towards a costume for his son’s role as a demon in a Janmashtami play. Verma said the expenses were difficult to avoid as it is mandatory for students to participate.Ashutosh Kumar Singh, a parent of a Class III student, said: “We have started cutting down on other expenses to accommodate school activity costs. A family day out or even a short trip gets postponed because the money goes towards costumes and accessories. With Diwali around the corner, household expenses are already rising, so managing everything together is becoming difficult.”
