Fruit and vegetable prices rose sharply across Kolkata markets on the eve of Lakshmi Puja as festive demand collided with limited supplies, higher transport costs and disruptions involving market workers. Households shopping at Lake Market, Gariahat and other neighbourhood markets said they were spending more while taking home smaller quantities.
Fruits used in Lakshmi Puja offerings recorded some of the steepest increases. Apples were selling at Rs 150-Rs 300 per kg depending on quality, while quality pomegranates touched Rs 400 per kg. Pomelos were priced at Rs 70-Rs 80 each. Red grapes were available at around Rs 400 per kg, and black grapes at around Rs 600 per kg at several stalls.
Vegetable prices also moved beyond what many middle-class consumers considered affordable for regular festive purchases. Shoppers said they were choosing cheaper grades, reducing quantities or limiting their purchases to essential items for the puja. Some buyers moved between stalls to bargain, while postponing non-essential purchases in the hope that prices would ease after the festive rush.
Traders attributed the increase to the seasonal rise in demand for apples, bananas, pomegranates, grapes and other fruits used in offerings. The additional demand came at a time when the supply of several vegetables was changing between seasons. Supplies of many summer vegetables had begun to decline, while winter produce had not yet arrived in sufficient volumes.
Transport and handling costs added to the pressure. Vendors said fruits have a short shelf life and are vulnerable to spoilage, leaving traders to price stock while carrying the risk that unsold produce may not remain saleable beyond a day. Higher transportation expenses from cultivation areas to wholesale and retail markets also contributed to the final prices paid by consumers.
Festive holidays further affected the movement of produce. Truck drivers, loaders, middlemen and market labourers took time away from work, disrupting the supply chain between production areas, wholesale markets and neighbourhood stalls. Traders said the impact was particularly visible when customers bought in small quantities, because even modest price increases affected the total household budget.
The price rise illustrates how a short festive demand surge can expose the sensitivity of an urban food market to seasonal availability, transport and labour. For households, the immediate adjustment has been to buy less, switch to lower-priced grades or restrict purchases to ritual essentials.
Traders expect prices to ease after Bhai Phonta, when demand for fruits and vegetables is expected to decline and market workers return to work. Until then, households and vendors in Kolkata markets are continuing to balance festival requirements against higher food costs.
