Bengaluru gears up for Sankranti

Markets across the city saw festive rush as residents came out on the weekend to shop for sugarcane, sweet potato and groundnut among other materials associated with Sankranti on January 15.

The prices of goods shot up over the last three days at KR Market, Basavanagudi, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, Yeshwantpur, Gandhi Bazar, KR Puram and Dasarahalli. That, however, did not deter the crowds who lined up to shop for flowers and fruits.

Raw groundnut was sold at Rs 80 per kg while sugarcane stems were sold at Rs 80 for a set of two at some places. Carrot rates fell to Rs 10 along with prices of fruits like muskmelon and chakkota. However, flower prices were high with 2 feet long woven jasmine selling at Rs 150.

Shopping centres have been opened in Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, with a promise of selling quality goods at a reasonable price.

Elsewhere in the city, an NGO distributed free foodgrain to the poor in Laggere near Dasarahalli ahead of the festival. Besides rice and soji, the donation included jaggery, sesame, sweet potato as well as soaps and brushes. “Price rise is common ahead of the festival. We decided to do our bit to help the poor celebrate Sankranti,” said Jeevan Kishore of Jeevaspandana Seva Trust.

Two startups have collaborated to organise an event on Tuesday aimed at giving an agrarian feeling to the festivities with events like kite flying and cultural performances.