Flower prices spike in Kolkata markets on Diwali & Kali Puja day

Kolkata: The prices of flowers — especially those offered to the deities or used for making ‘rangolis'— increased significantly on the occasion of Diwali and Kali Puja on Thursday. Vendors at Mullickghat Flower Market, New Market, and other locations attributed the price rise to hampered flower production due to Sept floods and incessant rain in the aftermath ofcyclone Dana in Oct.The cost of marigolds ranged between Rs 85-100 per kg, while hibiscuses were sold at Rs 135 per kg. Single lotus flowers were priced at Rs 50 at Mullickghat Flower Market. Other varieties like roses and tube roses were also selling at 20% higher prices. Retail prices in areas such as Rashbehari, Bhowanipore, Ballygunge, Kasba, New Town, Salt Lake, Bangur, and Lake Town shot up by 20%."Every year, prices of flowers increase a bit before any festival. But this time, the prices are almost double of what they were during Kali Puja and Diwali last year," said Biswajit Das, owner of Sai Baba Flowers, a wholesaler in Mullickghat Flower Market. The flower market opened even before sunrise with vendors arriving from suburbs and districts to sell flowers."Due to the high price, I had to curtail the amount of the stock I brought," said a vendor at Mullickghat, which is Bengal's largest flower markets with over 500 registered merchants and numerous informal sellers.Despite increased prices, devotees crowded the Mullickghat flower market and other stores before evening prayers. Moreover, traffic congestion was witnessed on all roads leading to the Mullickghat market during the morning hours."Offering flowers to the deities is an integral part of the prayers. Despite the high prices, we bought the flowers early in the morning to avoid the rush ," said Neha Mantri, a resident of Bangur Avenue.