Flower prices skyrocket in an attempt to cover the business losses of last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Coimbatore: Due to the spread of Covid-19 last year, Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja could not be celebrated with usual fervour. With fresh cases of Covid-19 declining this past month and more people being vaccinated, people are eager to resume celebrating festivals, especially Ayudha Puja for businesses and homes.
Places like Poo Market, Raja Street, Town Hall and Gandhipuram are abuzz with crowds again buying decorative items, peanuts, banana leaves, flowers and fruits, garlands and paper decorations. Wholesale and retail sales of a variety of flowers such as jasmine, lotus, rose and lily required for the Pujas are available aplenty for the public in Coimbatore's 'Poo Market' area, and the market has been thronged by those celebrating the Pujas this year.
Customers lament that the price of flowers is two to three times higher than usual. Marigold which was sold for Rs. 80 last week is now priced at Rs. 300 and Jasmine which was sold for Rs. 600 is now being sold for upto Rs.1200. Arali which was sold for Rs.100 per kg last week is now priced at Rs. 450. Lotus which was Rs. 6 per kg is being sold at Rs. 30, Sampangi which was sold for Rs. 60 last week was sold for Rs. 300 on Thursday, Jathi Mullai which sold at Rs. 200 is being sold now at Rs. 600, Mullai which was sold at Rs. 200 is now being sold at Rs. 800 and 'Pattu Poo' which was sold earlier for Rs. 30 is now being sold at Rs. 100.
According to traders, despite the large crowd after almost two years of lull in business owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, business in the past few weeks hasn't been profitable due to the low volume of flowers. They opine that businesses which buy more flowers are buying less. At the same time, the public who came to buy flowers lament that the price of flowers is many times higher.
Yet, amidst all the business fears, the public seem to have thrown caution to the winds and are seen overcrowding public places just to buy flowers for their business spaces and offices, ahead of Ayudha Puja. With absolutely no social distance being adhered to, will Covid-19 make an appearance again owing to festivities is the question!