Mangalore, September 18: With Ganesh Chaturthi a day away, the prices of vegetables have shot up to alarming levels and threaten to mar the celebrations. The high prices of vegetables are making people think twice before going for big purchases. Prices of a majority of the veggies have increased since the fest demands vegetarian delicacies.
On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Mangalore market was abuzz with activity even at the otherwise dull hours for the vegetable market at around 3pm.
Pumpkins, cucumber, ladyfinger and beetroot seem to be the hottest selling items for most vegetable vendors. The prices of potatoes, tomatoes, onions and brinjals remain more or less the same. Even certain fruits will be a little harder on buyers' wallets.
Though prices may vary between markets, they are still higher than usual. Sellers say that the price rise is inevitable and that there will be a further increase in vegetable and fruit prices during the start of the festival.
Malathi, a housewife, said, “The price of everything is going up. What difference does it make?" She added, “It will limit our choice a bit, especially the quantity of food to be prepared”
“What can we do? Ganesh Chaturthi is one of our main festivals. But we don't spend so much every day, so once in a while it is okay,” said Charan Kumar, a man who had come along with his family to buy fruits and vegetables. “It may be a little more than what we planned to spend but we are not going to let it stop us.”
Along with the vegetables, prices of flowers have also shot up. The prices of roses, sevanti, marigold have seen a significant increase.
Meanwhile, preparations for the festival are in full swing. Preparation and sale of Ganesha idols is also taking place at fast pace.
Comments
Add new comment