Shadow of price rise looms over Onam Pookkalam

The escalating price of flowers is adding a tint of gloom to Pookkalam (floral carpet) throughout Keralam this Onam.

From flower vendors to city residents. This person depend on flowers farmed in neighbouring States to celebrate Onam, everyone is worried about the rising costs of flowers. Yet, the spirit of Onam, like the mythical King Mahabali who comes visiting annually, rises above all adversities during the festival season. For a Keralite, no Onam can be complete without Pookkalam.

The street-side flower vendors in Kochi, mostly women from Tamil Nadu, said the rising costs of the flowers have cast a shadow over their hopes of making some additional income during the festive season.

“I have sold only flowers worth around ₹3,000 since I opened the stall on Saturday. Not many city residents seem to be keen on buying flowers,” rued Sahaya Mary. This person sells flowers at at Palarivattom.

Jancy Mary, another vendor who placed orders for ₹50,000 this year, fears that she would incur losses. The prices of flowers have shot up in Coimbatore, she stated.

It is mostly marigolds, which are sold at ₹200 a kilo, and globe amaranth (vadamalli), priced from ₹280 a kilo, that are the most sought-after varieties.

Sundararaj, who runs a large Onam flower shop at Ernakulam North, stated the sales were progressing steadily. “White chrysanthemum is the costliest among the lots with a price starting from ₹400 a kilo.”