High prices take fragrance out of flowers

Costly Varamahalakshmi

Price of flowers in the City has hit an all-time high on the eve of Varamahalakshmi pooja, one of the most auspicious festivals, in which the goddess of wealth is worshipped to usher in prosperity.

On Thursday, KR Market was bursting at the seams with people jostling with each other to do last minute shopping. Most of them were seen bargaining with the vendors as they found the prices of flowers too high for their comfort. However, vendors expressed their inability to lower the prices as they themselves buy flowers at a higher price.

Though, a kilo of jasmine cost nearly Rs 500 and a kilo of marigold was sold anywhere between Rs 40 and Rs 60, there was no dearth of buyers. Chrysanthemum flowers which usually sold at Rs 200 per kilo were being sold at more than Rs 320. Small sized button roses cost anywhere between Rs 120 and Rs 200 for a bunch of 100 flowers.

“The price of flowers is maddening. Added to that is the crowd at the KR Market, which makes shopping a painstaking experience. I wish I had come a day or two earlier,” rued Parvathi, a homemaker.

Lata, a college student, said that flower vendors are making a killing as they are sure that people would buy large quantities of flowers for the festival. High prices have never dampened celebration of festivals , she added.