Bengaluru: A number of households in the city have stacked up flowers in their refrigerator for the Gowri-Ganesha festival as the price of flowers is expected to reach unaffordable levels on Thursday and Friday, two days of the festival. In Jayanagar, K.R. Market, Malleswaram, Rajajinagar, Madiwala, Yeshwanthapur and Vijaynagar, people have been seen thronging flower markets three days ahead of the festival.
“A few years ago, people queued up near flower vendors on the morning of the festival to offer fresh petals for Ganesha. Apart from the sky-high prices on festival days, the traffic and rush at the markets, are also the reason why the people are buying flowers in advance and storing them in their refrigerators,” said a flower vendor in Malleswaram market.
“The traffic is very high around the market during the festival season. Even if you get a place to park you vehicle, there is no guarantee that you will be able take it out after your shopping is done. “The city has also been receiving rains for the last few days, and if it pours on Thursday and Friday too, then the situation around these markets will go out of control,” said a senior citizen in Jayanagar market.
Flower prices are also expected to more than double on the two days. A five-foot-long garland of native saffron roses costs about Rs 150-200 any other day, but on Thursday it is likely to be priced at Rs 400-500, flower vendors said. “Flowers for Shravana festivals, especially, are supplied to the city from Doddaballapur, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara and Magadi,” said a florist from Malleswaram.
