There is some good news for the devout ahead of this year’s Varamahalakshmi festival, to be celebrated on Friday. Prices of flowers — used to propitiate the goddess of wealth — have come down compared to the previous years.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, G M Diwakar, president of the Bengaluru Flower Merchants’ Association, said that the increase in crop yield this time had contributed to the decline in prices. “Prices of flowers like shavanthige (chrysanthemum), marigold and rose have decreased over the last two to three days. For the first time in several years, the prices have reduced by 20-25% during the festival,” he said. The price of jasmine per kg was Rs 400 on Thursday morning and by evening, it decreased to Rs 200. Similarly, the prices of shavanthige and marigold per kg stood at Rs 120, rose Rs 200 and lily Rs 140. Members of the Flower Merchants Association said that the price of kanakambara (crossandra) was Rs 1,200 per kg. Two days ago, it was being sold at Rs 2,000.
Barring jasmine, the city’s markets get their supply of flowers mainly from Magadi, Doddaballapur, Bagepalli, Mandya, Gauribidanur, Anekal and Chikkaballapur. The prices of fruits barring mosambi (sweet lime) have, however, increased. The wholesale price of pomegranate increased from Rs 100 to Rs 150 per kg on Wednesday and Thursday, according to traders.
Similarly, the price of apple shot up from Rs 70 to Rs 100-120 per kg. However, the price of mosambi decreased by Rs 10-15 per kg on Thursday.