Janmashtami pushes flower demand 3-fold

Sunday, August 24, 2008
Janmashtami pushes flower demand 3-fold
Prices of all types of flowers rise at Vadodara flower market
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Thanks to the Janmanshtami festival, the Vadodara flower market is in full bloom. Demand and prices of almost all types of flowers in the wholesale flower market in Vadodara have seen a sharp rise. In spite of the market being flooded with fresh stock on Saturday, burgeoning demand has catapulted flower prices in the citys flower market. However, vendors are very happy with the high volume of business surging prices, which have almost increased to three times.Prices of most of the flowers which is normally used for puja has increase from 20% to 150%. While rose saw an increase of 150%, Jalbara rose by 75% and prices of other varieties like orchids, Jasmine and Rajanigandha, too, have increased. Jalbara prices also fluctuated sharply when it went up to Rs80 a kg from the Rs50 last week. However, local flowers like paras and desi rose have been left untouched by the rise.“Already, demand for flowers was good owing to the ongoing Shravan month. But Janmashthami festival shoot up the prices to its peak,” said Ajay Yadav, a flower vendor.Hajariya, another flower vendor said, “Different temples in Vadodara has purchased flowers in bulk. Not only in temples, Janmashthami is also being celebrated in societies now which has also pushed up the demand and prices.”