Koyambedu flower market springs back to life

“Samandhi has arrived this season in large quantity, and is priced at Rs 150 per kg. People use it for adorning their temples and is particularly in demand during the Sabarimala season,” said Lakshmi Narayanan, a flower seller.

White Samandhi, another flower that has seen good demand this season was being sold for Rs 20 per kg during the rains. The flowers, procured from Salem, are selling for '100 per kg. Roses, which are available round the year, are priced at Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg.

“There was no business during the floods. We were throwing away flowers. Now things are back to normal,” said Senthil Kumar, another seller.

Jyadhi flowers, known for their fragrance and used by devotees, have seen an increase in demand despite their prices being as high as Rs 900 per kg.

The flowers, which are in season from July to February, were also not getting sold during heavy rains. Mallipu (jasmine), which is popularly worn by women in their hair, had touched Rs 1,200 per kg.

This is another reason why people aren’t hesitant to buy jyadhi, said flower seller Pughazenthi VA. “Plants of this flower were completely washed out during rains.”

Many buyers thronging the market were reluctant to buy flowers at the high rates being quoted.

But some didn’t hesitate as Sabarimala season is something that happens only once annually. In the fruit market, the crowds were less compared to those at the flower market. Grapes known as

sarath or kalpana are the highlights of the current season. Black grapes were priced at

Rs 120 per kg and the green grapes at Rs 140 per kg.

“Musambhi is in good demand now. Grapes that have arrived now will be in season till April,” said a fruit seller. Many fruit vendors were reeling under the burden of disposing of fruits

that went stale during the rains.