Prices of flowers, fruits skyrocket on Ugadi eve

Mysuru: There was heavy rush at the more than a hundred-year-old Devaraja Market with hardly any moving space with people falling over one another to make purchases of fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables for the Ugadi festival tomorrow (Apr.6).

This is that time of the year with Chandramana Ugadi ushering in the new year according to Hindu alamanac (Panchanga). Life is a mixture of happiness and sadness and this is what the spirit of Ugadi is all about and hence people ring it in by eating a mixture of sweet and bitter items that is neem leaves and jaggery (bevu-bella).

Even though the prices of flowers and fruits have skyrocketed, people still are not perturbed and were seen buying them. For instance a length of Chrysanthemum (Sevanthige) that was being sold at Rs. 35 to Rs.40 is being sold at a whopping Rs. 100 and by evening it is likely to go up to Rs.120 a length.

Button rose sold  at Rs.10 for 250 grams is now being sold at Rs. 40 to Rs. 50, while mixed colour rose  is being sold at Rs. 60 for 250 gms. Kanakambra flowers sold in loose is being sold at a whopping Rs. 100 to Rs.125 for 250 gms. while Ooty Mallige is being sold at Rs. 250 to Rs. 400 a kg.  

The fruits are also in equal demand with apples sold between Rs.140 to Rs.180 per kg, pomegranate at Rs. 80 to Rs.100 and green and black grapes being sold at Rs. 160 to Rs.180 per  kg.

Elakki banana which used to cost Rs. 40 to Rs.50 a kg has now gone up to Rs. 70 to Rs. 90 while the famous Nanjangud Rasabale is sold anywhere between Rs.100 to Rs. 110 per kg.

The vegetables prices had already gone up with carrot being sold at Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 per kg. A small cucumber costs Rs.10 lemon is being sold between Rs. 5 and Rs. 8 each depending on the size.

Coconuts too have become costly and are sold at Rs. 25, Rs. 30 and Rs. 35 depending on the size.

Jaggery which is used in the preparation of obbattu (quite a popular dish during Ugadi) costs Rs. 10 for 100 gram to 150 gram.

A bunch of neem leaves and mango leaves which is a part of Ugadi festival or any other festival as it is used to tie on the doors is being sold at Rs.10 to Rs. 15 each for a bunch.

The rates in other markets like Mandi Market, Vani Vilas Market may vary a bit.

However, the flowers, neem and mango leaves sold on the roads like Dhanavanthri Road, Seshadri Iyer Road, Sayyaji  Road where the farmers descend directly with their produce will cost less as one has the luxury of bargaining with them unlike in Devaraj Market where neither the sellers nor buyers do not have much time to bargain.