<p>Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: As thousands of devotees across <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/odisha">Odisha</a> make a beeline to temples on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, the demand for Ketaki, or screw pine flower, has soared.</p>.<p>As on Wednesday, the thorny flower was selling between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 near Shri Loknath Temple in Puri and for Rs 600 to Rs 800 near Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.</p>.<p>The demand for Ketaki stems from the fact that it is offered to Mahadev only on Maha Shivratri.</p>.Maha Kumbh's final 'snan' begins on Mahashivratri.<p>Ketaki is a variety of the 'Kewra' and its botanical name is Pandanus fascicularis. The flower blooms only during this period.</p>.<p>While 'Kewra' is abundantly grown in six coastal blocks of Ganjam district, Ketaki is rarely found in the area, said Sushant Kumar Nayak of Golanthara in Ganjam district.</p>.<p>"High demand and rare availability are the main reasons behind the steep price of the flower," said Ketaki seller B Simadri of Tulu. "Last year, I collected around 25 pieces, but this year, I could gather only a dozen," he added.</p>.<p>Farmers in Ganjam district export this rare flower to several towns across the state, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, and Koraput, said Bhagaban Behera, a flower seller.</p>.<p>"Many flower sellers from these towns placed their orders well ahead of Shivratri," he added.</p>.<p>Devotees believe that offering Ketaki to Lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri fulfill their wishes.</p>.<p>According to mythology, Ketaki was once cursed by Lord Shiva and prohibited from being used in rituals.</p>.<p>However, the deity later allowed its offering on just one day—Maha Shivratri, explained Ashok Kumar Padhy, a priest.</p>.<p>Bala Krushna Pradhan, a resident of Shakti Nagar in Berhampur, said he has been offering Ketaki to the Lord Shiva for several years.</p>.<p>"I bought the flower for Rs 400 this year, whereas last year, I got it for Rs 300," he added. </p>
<p>Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: As thousands of devotees across <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/odisha">Odisha</a> make a beeline to temples on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, the demand for Ketaki, or screw pine flower, has soared.</p>.<p>As on Wednesday, the thorny flower was selling between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 near Shri Loknath Temple in Puri and for Rs 600 to Rs 800 near Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.</p>.<p>The demand for Ketaki stems from the fact that it is offered to Mahadev only on Maha Shivratri.</p>.Maha Kumbh's final 'snan' begins on Mahashivratri.<p>Ketaki is a variety of the 'Kewra' and its botanical name is Pandanus fascicularis. The flower blooms only during this period.</p>.<p>While 'Kewra' is abundantly grown in six coastal blocks of Ganjam district, Ketaki is rarely found in the area, said Sushant Kumar Nayak of Golanthara in Ganjam district.</p>.<p>"High demand and rare availability are the main reasons behind the steep price of the flower," said Ketaki seller B Simadri of Tulu. "Last year, I collected around 25 pieces, but this year, I could gather only a dozen," he added.</p>.<p>Farmers in Ganjam district export this rare flower to several towns across the state, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, and Koraput, said Bhagaban Behera, a flower seller.</p>.<p>"Many flower sellers from these towns placed their orders well ahead of Shivratri," he added.</p>.<p>Devotees believe that offering Ketaki to Lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri fulfill their wishes.</p>.<p>According to mythology, Ketaki was once cursed by Lord Shiva and prohibited from being used in rituals.</p>.<p>However, the deity later allowed its offering on just one day—Maha Shivratri, explained Ashok Kumar Padhy, a priest.</p>.<p>Bala Krushna Pradhan, a resident of Shakti Nagar in Berhampur, said he has been offering Ketaki to the Lord Shiva for several years.</p>.<p>"I bought the flower for Rs 400 this year, whereas last year, I got it for Rs 300," he added. </p>