Many city markets and shopping establishments were enthusiastically hoping to make some extra money, as the demand for many goods had gone up.
The festival of Ramanavami, which will be celebrated on Tuesday, sent prices of several essential commodities sky-rocketing. Many city markets and shopping establishments were enthusiastically hoping to make some extra money, as the demand for many goods had gone up.
Despite the rising prices, vendors were seen making brisk business of flowers, vegetables and fruits, on the eve of the festival on Monday. At the Madivala market, prices of fruits such as watermelon, plantains and lemons saw a steep hike.
Watermelons, which usually sell at about ¤100, depending on the size, were being sold at about ¤140. Similarly, cucumbers, which used to sell at ¤10 for four pieces, were being sold at ¤4 for a single piece.
Decorative items, especially flowers saw a dominant hike in their rates, too. Devaki, a flower vendor at said, “We have increased the rates of all flowers by ¤30 per kilo. There are no specific flowers for the festival. However, tulsi and jasmine are most preferred.”
Though sweet stalls did not increased their prices, many of them have seen an increase in sales with Bengali sweets and Mysore Pak being the most preferred by the consumers.
Houses were also decked up for the celebrations. “In our house, we make prasad from soaked moong dal and cucumber along with buttermilk, which we later distribute to the devotees,” said Jayashree Ramesh, a housewife.
Shopkeepers around the Hanuman temple in Madivala have set up a Sri Maruti Seva Trust and will distribute prasad made from jaggery water, soaked moong dal and cucumber, to the worshippers. The temple, which usually opens at 5.30am will be open at 4.30am on Tuesday, as more than 3,000 devotees are expected.
Similarly, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple is organising the festivities in the evening. There will be an alankara of Lord Rama and Lakshmana. The Iskcon fraternities will be fasting till evening until Ram Tarka Homa and special Arti. This year, more than 40,000 devotees who are expected to attend, will be served with special panaka and kosmari.
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has geared up for the festival by enhancing production of curds and streamlining the distribution.
“We are expecting a 40% additional demand on Tuesday and hence we are ensuring that there will be sufficient production,” said Ravikumar Kakade, director (marketing), KMF, adding that all milk unions have been told to gear up for the increased demand.
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