With the sale of articles related to the Navaratri celebrations on the rise, people of Coimbatore are concerned about the unnatural hike in prices of flowers and sugarcanes.

Ayudha Pooja, which falls on Wednesday, is part of the Navaratri celebrations, with Vijayadasami being celebrated the following day. As part of the festival, people decorate their houses with flowers, especially Sevvanthi, and worship gods with sweets, delicacies and lots of fruits. The prices of flowers have shot up. Sevvanthi is now being sold at Rs.250 per kilo. According to N. Nawas, a flower merchant, jasmine is being sold at Rs.200, and lilies at Rs.250 per kg.

He further added that the price of fruits too has seen a gradual rise. “While lemon is being sold at nearly Rs.100 per kilo, pomegranate is now sold at Rs.150, and apple, at Rs.110. The prices were less by 20 or 30 Rupees until recently,” he said. “While the prices of flowers had doubled because production was affected by rain, the fruit prices had increased due to demand.”

According to S. Settu, a sugarcane merchant, the prices of the canes too have doubled. “Sugarcane, which was sold at Rs.300 per bundle of 15 sugarcanes each, is now sold at Rs.150 per pair!” he said. But, he is sure that the prices will gradually decrease in a few days.

S. Nagaraj, a resident from Thoppambatti, said that the price rise has affected the people. Since they have no choice, they are forced to buy them. “The government should regularize the prices of these essential Pooja materials,” he said.