Flower & fruit prices up, but so is festive spirit
BBMP chief’s plea for ‘low-key’ fest falls on deaf ears
BENGALURU:
With festive times ahead, beginning with the Varamahalakshmi fest, flowers and fruits are getting costlier as Covid has disrupted supplies.
Despite corona cases crossing 50,000 in Bengaluru, there is excitement among the faithful. So much so that people are taking the BBMP chief’s recent appeal for safe, low-key celebrations with a pinch of turmeric.
Crowds of shoppers could be seen on Thursday at places like Hebbal, Yeshwanthpur, Mathikere and Mysore Road.
Among the reasons for rising prices is that many merchants have moved to the outskirts of the city as major markets like KR Market have been sealed by BBMP.
Farmers have improvised and are selling their produce directly to the public in places like Seegehalli, Mahalakshmi Layout, Avalahalli, KR Puram, Siddapur, Yelahanka, Mysore Road and Kanakapura Road.
As of Thursday, jasmine costs Rs 600, crossandra costs Rs 3,000 and marigold costs Rs 300 per kg. Loose flowers (‘bidi hoovu’) range from Rs 350 to Rs 400, while lotus costs Rs 50 per flower.
In fruits, apple costs Rs 260, pomegranate Rs 160 and chikoo/grapes Rs 100 per kg.
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