The first festival of the year is here with all it traditional pomp. But while the farmers are celebrating the harvest festival of Makara Sankranthi, the middle class people are feeling the heat of rising prices that seem to mar the festivities.

The prices of the essential items for the festival including flowers, vegetable and pulses have gone through the roof since Sunday. The middle-class families are hard pressed to celebrate the festival with all the tradition because of the exorbitant costs. 

Sankranthi that is traditionally a mix of the sweetness of jaggery and the bitterness of til to depict the balance in life, seem to be left withonly a bitter taste in their mouth.

Ryots happy

However the farmers seem to be a happy lot. In comparison to the last five years, the farmers have had a huge reason to smile this year.

Though the rainfall has been scant in areas such as Pavagada, Madhugiri, Sira, Koratgere, the farmers did not go under loss because of the groundnut crop that most of them had opted for. Though they are cribbing about not having the right prices for their produce, the ryots have not had to face extreme problems where they were hard pressed for one square meal.

The Jayamangali river tha not seen a brimful in the last 18 years was full of water this year. Even that largest lake in the area, the Kunigal lake was full after a span of 3 years.

Even the tributaries of the Hemavathi river which originates at the neighbouring district of Hassan, left Tumkur wet and happy.

Tiptur, Kunigal, Gubbi Turuvekere also enjoyed a healthy rainfall and the main crop of coconut was a good one.

Even the ragi crop was fantastic one that brought a huge e smile to the farmers’ faces.  In the last five years, there has never been a more appropriate reason for the farmers to rejoice and celebrate the harvest festival in its true spirit.

The temples have been decked up and the houses wear a festive look with beautiful rangoli patterns adorning the front of the residences.

Rising problems

However not all share this sentiment of celebrations. While the entire country is gearing up to celebrate the Makara Sankrathi in its unique way with the regional flavour another problem is raising its ugly head to mar the celebrations- sky rocketing prices of the essential items.

The prices of flowers had gone up to Rs 200 from Rs 100 on Sunday morning itself for 10 maru of kakada.

Kankambara was available for a measly Rs 300 for 10 maru.

Even the easily available chrysanthemum (sevanthige) was retailing at Rs 20 -25 per kg. Marigold sold at Rs 35- 40 and roses had risen to Rs 140. The consumers were indeed  hard hit with this.

Rice, oil, vegetables and just a bout everything you named in the market seemed to be touching the sky.

The beneficiaries

But the rising prices have made no difference to the money given to the farmers at all. The sugarcane farmers are hard hit with the crop just fetching Rs 10 per stack.