Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam is ready to celebrate the much awaited festival with Ganesh pandals erected across various parts of the city. People on Saturday were seen doing last minute shopping for the festival.
However, the festive spirit has also let Vizagites a little damp because of the sky rocketing prices of fruits and flowers. Chrysanthemum (Chamanthi), which was being sold for Rs 80-100 a few days ago is being sold in the market for as high as Rs 400 per kilogram. So is the case with another popular flower, Marigold known as Banthi. While prices of such varieties of flowers have increased manifold, other flowers like rose are not even sufficiently available in the market.
Prices of fruits have also not remain untouched. Price of an apple has increased from Rs 25 to Rs 40, bananas from Rs 40 per dozen to about Rs 60 and pomegranates from Rs 30 per piece to about Rs 50. Even vegetable prices are on the rise. With increased awareness more people are buying mud Ganesh idols as such idols are available for a price as low as Rs 20.
