Onam Pookkalam: Soaring flower prices test festive spirit in Kerala
The escalating price of flowers is casting a shadow over Pookkalam (floral carpet) preparations across Kerala this Onam. From street-side vendors to city residents who depend on flowers farmed in neighbouring States, the rising costs are a cause for concern. Yet, the spirit of Onam, much like the mythical King Mahabali who is believed to visit his people annually, appears to rise above these adversities during the festival season.
For a Keralite, no Onam is complete without a Pookkalam. The traditional floral carpets, made with vibrant marigolds, globe amaranth, and chrysanthemums, are a central part of the celebrations. However, this year, the prices of these essential flowers have shot up, leaving many worried about their budgets.
Street-side flower vendors in Kochi, mostly women from Tamil Nadu, said the rising prices have dampened their hopes of earning extra income during the festive season. “I have sold only flowers worth around ₹3,000 since I opened the stall on Saturday. Not many city residents seem to be keen on buying flowers,” said Sahaya Mary, a vendor at Palarivattom.
Jancy Mary, another vendor who placed orders for ₹50,000 this year, fears she may incur losses. The prices of flowers have shot up in Coimbatore, she noted. Marigolds, which are among the most sought-after varieties, are being sold at ₹200 a kilo, while globe amaranth (vadamalli) is priced at ₹280 a kilo.
Sundararaj, who runs a large Onam flower shop at Ernakulam North, said sales were progressing steadily. “White chrysanthemum is the costliest among the lots, with a price starting from ₹400 a kilo,” he said. The flowers are brought to Kochi market from Bengaluru in Karnataka, and Hosur and Dindigul in Tamil Nadu.
In Kozhikode, prices have remained largely stable compared with last year, said sellers who source flowers mainly from Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru, and Gundlupet in Karnataka, and Dindigul. “The business may improve once educational institutions close and people fully enter the Onam mood,” hoped Arjun Sooraj, a seller at Palayam, Vengeri, and Vadakara.
The size of an average Pookkalam spread in offices and commercial institutions can range anywhere between two to three metres in diameter and require flowers worth around ₹10,000. The Pookkalams come in different designs and patterns, showcasing traditional art forms as well as modern creations.
“We bought flowers worth ₹7,000 to make a Pookkalam for the celebration at our office tomorrow,” said two young IT employees who were coming out of a flower shop. They said they did not pay much attention to the prices, as the Pookkalam was an unavoidable ingredient of their celebrations.
M. Swapna, a resident of Palazhi in Kozhikode, noted that flowers were abundant in the market. “Hence, there are no exorbitant rates as of now,” she said. Merchants in Kollam, meanwhile, noted that since Onam arrived early and the past two months witnessed a lull in sales, traders were left with little time to normalise inter-State arrivals.
“While prices for roses and white chrysanthemums are fairly consistent with last year, the price of marigolds has gone up,” said Rajesh Ramaswamy, a merchant. The acute water scarcity in key cultivation hubs across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh has severely pinched supply lines, pushing up retail rates for marigold and jasmine, he explained.
Local cultivator B. Subith from Poovathur, who expects a 3,000 kg yield from his one-acre marigold farm, said market rates will only truly settle once public festivities gather full steam. “Most Onam celebrations and large-scale events begin this Friday. Demand will peak then, and prices could rise further,” he said.
To cushion consumers against inflation and cut dependence on imported blooms, the Kudumbashree Mission has facilitated cultivation of flowers on 102.65 acres of land under its ‘Nirappolima’ initiative. This move is expected to provide some relief to consumers and reduce the reliance on flowers from other States.
