Shell out more this Varamahalakshmi

With the prices of flowers and fruits peaking, you may have to shell out more to please the gods this Varamahalakshmi.

As hordes of people throng the markets in Malleswaram and Vasanathanagar, vendors are happy.

They are cashing in on the price rise. Mallige (jasmine) is costing Rs400 to Rs500 a kg, said a vendor in Vasanthanagar.

Roses are prices at Rs120 per kg. Marigold costs Rs80 per kg.

“It’s only for two days the prices are so high. That is because of the upcoming festival. By Saturday, they will fall again,” she said.

The prices of fruits too are not lagging behind. They have gone up by 10% from last week. The cost of bananas has gone up by 50%.

“The prices of fruits have sky-rocketed from what we saw last week,” said Parashiva Murthy, managing director of Hopcoms.

The Yelaki variety is priced at Rs49. Last week, it was Rs36. The bigger variety which costs Rs18 was available for Rs14 last week. Prices of betel leaves, which are commonly used during the festive season, have shot up to Rs50 for 100 leaves compared to Rs40 the previous week.

“We are expecting the business to improve over Thursday, especially since it is the beginning of a long weekend. Even in the case of milk sweets, khowa and a few others, the prices have risen considerably,” said a condiments store owner adding that the general trend is a rise by Rs20.

Milk and khowa sweets, which are normally available for Rs180 per kg, now costs Rs200, while Mysore pak has gone up to Rs240 per kg from Rs220.

On the occasion of Varamahalakshmi festival, Dose Mane at Basavanagudi is hosting a Holige feast. The place will offer a variety of meals with three types of holige.