CHENNAI: The aroma of flowers waft through the bylanes of Mylapore as flower sellers call their customers from different directions. As we enter the street towards Kapaleeshwar Temple, we can’t help.but observe that there are fewer buyers this year. The flower sale has taken a hit this year prior to the Margazhi fest just because the rain gods showered little too much this time.
“I usually buy flowers from the market near the temple. The same garland I bought here last month for `150 is `250 now!” says V Palaniswamy, a retailer who buys garlands regularly from the street near the temple.
The sudden surge in price is because there is high demand for varieties of rose (pink and yellow), and very limited stock. “We buy flowers from the wholesale flower market in Koyambedu. Since rose prices went up, our investment in the business also peaked. It is almost double of what I spent last year during the Margazhi season and people are reluctant to buy because of the high price,” rues Dilli Babu, a flower shop owner at Mylapore.
The rains struck down the labour force with monsoon-related illnesses in Bengaluru and hence they hiked the prices. For 1 kg of rose, they pay about `5 extra than what it was last year. The sellers buy around 10 kg a day. “It affects my entire capital. This year, I spent around `15,000 on flowers. We only get normal roses here which don’t last even four hours after plucking. This is why we import from Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh,” says V Prashanth, garland maker, Saravana Flower Shop, Mylapore.
According to the shopkeepers of the flower street, the Margazhi sale will only begin after December 25 and they fear till then, the market will be dull. “The only relief we have now is the ‘Karthika deepam’ sale that is happening right now and in a day or two, that too shall be over,” adds Babu.
The flower retailers of the temple street are eagerly waiting for the Margazhi music fest to heat up so that they can break even.