Bengaluru’s Dasara markets have seen a sharp rise in the prices of flowers, fruits and lemons, even as vegetable prices remain largely unchanged, according to traders cited by Prajavani. Buying activity for Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami began over the weekend and continued on Monday across several markets in the city.
Crowds were reported at K.R. Market, Madiwala, Malleshwaram, Gandhi Bazaar, Yeshwanthpur, Vijayanagar, Basaveshwaranagar, Hebbal, Dasarahalli and Jayanagar. Residents were buying flowers, fruits, ash gourds, lemons and banana bunches for household, commercial and vehicle pujas. Some companies, factories and shop owners had scheduled their celebrations around the festival holidays, while residents leaving the city reportedly performed vehicle pujas over the weekend.
Traders attributed the higher prices of several items to supply constraints and crop damage. Flowers and lemons were being brought to Bengaluru in significant quantities from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. A K.R. Market trader, Narayan, said a lack of rainfall had damaged crops, contributing to the price increase.
Ash gourds were selling at ₹25 to ₹35 per kilogram in the city. Rose prices had risen after the crop was affected by rainfall shortages and disease. Wholesale roses were priced at ₹200 to ₹300 per kilogram, while retail prices ranged from ₹400 to ₹450. Chrysanthemums were available in wholesale markets at ₹300 to ₹350 per kilogram and sold by retailers at ₹400 to ₹450.
Prices of kanakambara, jasmine, kakada and sugandharaja flowers had also increased slightly. However, the price of jasmine garlands fell after shops and factories conducted their pujas on Saturday and Sunday ahead of the holidays on Monday and Tuesday.
Vegetable prices were reported to be stable at levels reached before the festival. Carrots were selling at ₹70 to ₹80 per kilogram, beans at ₹80 to ₹90, and ladies’ finger and ridge gourd at ₹50 to ₹60. Green capsicum was priced at ₹50 to ₹60 per kilogram. Round brinjal was available at retail prices of ₹25 to ₹30, with prices reported to be ₹5 to ₹10 higher than earlier levels.
Puffed rice, which sees increased demand during Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami, had also become more expensive. Its price rose from ₹12 to ₹15 per litre. Traders linked the increase to higher rice prices following inadequate rainfall this year.
Despite the festival demand, wholesale flower and fruit traders at K.R. Market told Prajavani that business had fallen by about 15% because of the steep rise in prices. The reported decline highlights the effect of supply disruptions on both consumer purchases and the earnings of market traders during a period of concentrated seasonal demand.
