Prices of flowers skyrocket in Tiruchi ahead of the Ayudha Puja

The prices of flowers have skyrocketed in Tiruchi market due to sharp rise in demand in view of Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja, which is celebrated on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

According to sources, 1 kg of jasmine was quoted at ₹800 on Sunday as against ₹100 on normal days. Similarly, 1 kg of mullai and jathi flowers was sold for ₹800. On normal days, they are sold for ₹80 to ₹100 per kg.

Similarly, the price of sevvanthi, which is usually used for making garlands, went up manifold. One kg of sevvanthi was sold at ₹300. The prices of sambangi, vellai sevvanthi, and marigolundu also witnessed a sharp rise.

Traders and local vendors attribute the steep escalation to festive demand-supply mismatch. They attribute to recent weather conditions affecting crop yields in agricultural belts in Hosur, Mecheri, and Thoppur.

“Navarathiri period is the best selling season in a year. There is a huge demand for flowers as all shops and commercial establishments will invariably be decorated with flowers and garlands on the day of Ayudha puja. It has pushed up the prices of flowers sharply,” says R. Parthiban of BMS Flowers Commission Mandi in Tiruchi.

Seasonal flower merchants, who buy flowers at the wholesale markets in Tiruchi and Satharaveedhi in Srirangam and sell them by stringing, have increased the prices rapidly. They sell one foot of jasmine, mullai and jathi flowers at ₹150 on Sunday. One feet of mix of flowers was quoted at ₹70 to ₹80.

But, the high cost of flowers and other puja items did not dampen the spirit of the buyers. Right from Gandhi Market to local markets in different parts of the city witnessed heavy crowds ahead of the Ayudha puja and Saraswati puja. The markets witnessed brisk business all through the day on Sunday.