40% increase in flower prices

This is a whopping increase of 170 tonnes of flowers, compared to the 30 tonnes that arrive on normal days. The heady fragrance of roses, jasmines, champas and marigolds pervaded the market in Coimbatore which has a considerable Malayalam-speaking population. As the demand for the colourful blossoms soar ahead of Onam, their prices have also spiked up by at least 40 per cent.

Coimbatore Flower Market Association (CFMA) treasurer K.K. Ayyappan said the orange and yellow sendumalli, used in large quantities to create the poo kalams, is now sold at Rs 60 a kilo, against Rs 40 in normal times. "There is an average 40 per cent increase, compared to the prices two weeks ago."

"Chrysanthemum or the common samanthi, now costs between Rs 80 and Rs 200 a kg depending on quality. Fragrant champas or sampangis are priced at Rs 200 a kg, vadamalli is sold at Rs 20-Rs 30 per kg depending on quality. The regular rose coloured arali or oleander has gone up to Rs 120 per kg whereas the white and red ones cost Rs 200.

According to Ayyappan, the flowers are sourced from Alandurai and Thondamuthur in the city and from Hosur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Bengaluru. "We get arali mostly from Dindigul district. Jasmines from Sathyamangalam are sold at Rs 400 a kilo due to the festival demand," he said.

Roses, used to decorate the borders of the poo kalams have gone really pricey at Rs 120-Rs 160 a kilo. "Five varieties coming from Hosur are in great demand the little ones in yellow, pink and red colours. The Taj Mahal rose is also in demand; it is priced at Rs 200 for just 20 flowers," said CFMA secretary A. Ansari.

He said a bunch of 100 ordinary roses are now sold at Rs 70. Traders say they have also received orders from Malayali traders in Muscat, Doha and Bahrain.