Demand-supply gap: Soaring flower prices put a damper on festivities

WITH festivities having commenced on Tuesday with the dawn of Atham, Keralites are on a frantic purchasing spree, with flowers being at the top of their Onam shopping list.

- MANOJ VISWANATHAN @Kochi

For the next few days, colleges, government and private offices and cultural organisations will be organising Onam celebrations, with the main attraction being competitions for making the traditional 'Onapookkalam' or floral carpets.

This is the most lucrative season for traders as Malayalees will be splurging on festive necessities these days.

However, the soaring prices of flowers during the festival season have posed a concern to both traders and customers.

Though traders in the city buy flowers from Thovalai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu during Onam, the prices remain high due to heavy demand.