Shadow of price rise looms over Onam Pookkalam
Rising flower prices are impacting the traditional Pookkalam floral carpet celebrations for Onam in Kerala. Vendors report lower sales and concerns about profitability as costs for flowers sourced from neighboring states continue to climb.
Why it matters
The report highlights the economic impact of inflation on cultural traditions and small-scale seasonal businesses.
The escalating price of flowers is adding a tint of gloom to Pookkalam (floral carpet) across Keralam this Onam.
From flower vendors to city residents, who depend on flowers farmed in neighbouring States to celebrate Onam, everyone is worried about the rising prices of flowers. Yet, the spirit of Onam, like the mythical King Mahabali who comes visiting annually, rises above all adversities during the festival season. For a Keralite, no Onam can be complete without Pookkalam.
The street-side flower vendors in Kochi, mostly women from Tamil Nadu, said the rising prices of the flowers have cast a shadow over their hopes of making some additional income during the festive season.
“I have sold only flowers worth around ₹3,000 since I opened the stall on Saturday. Not many city residents seem to be keen on buying flowers,” rued Sahaya Mary, who sells flowers at at Palarivattom.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in