JOIN USHuge crowd throng Devaraja market, surroundings on the eve of Varamahalakshmi fest.
Mysoreans are ready to welcome the festive season to please the goddess of wealth and prosperity on Varamahalakshmi festival, falling on July 27, after a hiatus of a month due to Ashada.
If one had expected to experience a decline of enthusiasm with the inflation rate going skywards this season, then they would be disappointed as the shoppers had to literally struggle to find their way to the section of Devaraja market selling flowers.
Gone are the days when only flowers were sold in kilos, now even the ‘javana’ the aromatic plant used for decorating and performing puja are being sold in weight.
Some vendors were seen selling them for Rs 10 per five gram and invited curious glances from the shoppers who were used to buying them in bunches.
If this system becomes popular, days are not far to buy coriander leaves and greens by weighing them, as is done in some parts of North India.
Flowers
With all the lakes drying up completely, lotus, which is said to be a favourite flower of goddess Mahalakshmi and becomes a part of the festival with goddess being decorated with it is found in less numbers and the vendors were seen selling water lillies that resemble lotus for Rs 10 per pair.
As every festival season, chrysanthemum was sold at Rs 50 per metre, jasmine Rs 500 per kg and kanakambara at Rs 900 per kg and Ooty roses at Rs 240 per kg. The rise in prices had not deterred the buyers who had arrived by noon,seen scrambling to buy them.
The scenario was completely different in the evening with the office goers visiting the market in large numbers making it difficult to even enter the market.
Fruits
While mangoes were the cheapest with Rs 30 per kg, apples were sold at Rs 120 per kg, mousambi, banana and pears at Rs 40 per kg.
Bananas which are mandatory for any festival, very importantly for Varamahalakshmi as it is usually offered to women visiting households, were sold by weight and also by dozens.
The shops selling turmeric, vermillion and puja materials, coconuts were making good business with shopkeepers not having even a minute to relax.
But the shop which was selling decorative items like ready handmade jewellery, crown, silk mini lehangas in bright colurs to decorate the deity which is usually installed at homes on the occasion was the cynosure of all eyes with prices ranging from 150 onwards.
Banana stems and mango leaves were sold at every nook and corner of the city, enabling the passersby to make easy purchase on their way home.