Bengaluru flower prices have risen sharply ahead of the Gowri-Ganesha festival, with kanakambara selling at up to ₹1,300 per kg and jasmine reaching ₹600 per kg in key city markets, according to a report by Vijay Karnataka. Despite the increase, markets including KR Market, Malleshwaram and Yeshwanthpur were reported to be crowded with festival shoppers.
The report said flowers, fruits, banana stems and पूजा materials had arrived in large quantities three days before the festival, but prices were higher than usual. Kanakambara was being sold at ₹1,000-1,300 per kg, jasmine at ₹500-600, roses at ₹200-250, marigold at ₹80-100, sugandharaja at ₹250-300 and chrysanthemums at ₹200-250.
Fruit prices were also elevated in the retail markets. Apples were selling at ₹200-300 per kg and pomegranates at ₹100-250. Sapota was priced at ₹120-140 in the wholesale-rate list cited for KR Market, while oranges and sweet lime were selling at ₹80-100. Grapes were priced at ₹120-150 per kg. Banana varieties included elaichi bananas at ₹100-120 and green bananas at ₹40-50 per kg.
Vijay Karnataka attributed the rise in flower prices to reduced rainfall and falling groundwater availability in some growing areas. The report said inadequate water for crops had affected yields, reversing the usual pattern in which flower prices are lower around the Gowri-Ganesha festival than during the Varamahalakshmi festival. This explanation reflects the source’s account and was not supported in the supplied material by a separate agriculture department statement or market survey.
Festival-related household purchases were continuing despite the higher prices. Ready-made Gowri baagina kits containing grains, turmeric, vermilion, bangles and other customary items were available for ₹400-600, while a pair of moras was priced at ₹120-150. Garike bundles were selling at ₹25, bilva leaves at ₹50, mango leaves at ₹30-40 and pairs of banana stems at ₹50-200.
Vegetable prices cited in the report included ₹60-70 per kg for onions, ₹80 for beans, ₹50 for beetroot, ₹66 for white brinjal, ₹40-50 for potatoes, ₹25-30 for tomatoes and ₹60 for ridge gourd. The figures provide a snapshot of festival-period prices in Bengaluru markets; the report did not establish how long the higher rates would continue or whether they represented city-wide averages.
