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Kolkata, Oct 20 (IANS) The price of red hibiscus, an essential commodity for the rituals of Kali Puja festival, increased almost five times in the retail markets of Kolkata on Monday, when it coincides with the auspicious occasion of Diwali.
A garland of 108 pieces of red hibiscus is being sold in retail markets for between Rs 150 and Rs 200, depending on the area where the market is, even a week ago its price was around Rs 25 to Rs 30.
The price of a rosary of 1,008 pieces of red hibiscus, which is mainly sold on the occasion of Kali Puja or during special occasions, is really burning a hole in the pocket this year, with the price of the item almost doubling compared to last year.
On Monday, a garland of 1,008 pieces of red hibiscus was being sold between Rs 600 and Rs 700, while last year its maximum price was Rs 350.
In most of the retail markets in the city, vendors stopped selling individual pieces of red hibiscus on Monday. A local flower seller in Gariahat market in South Kolkata, who sells individual pieces of red hibiscus, will make a loss compared to selling flowers in garlands, as the latter price is a combination of the price of the flowers and the charges for weaving the garland.
“Normally, every year the price of red hibiscus increases slightly on the occasion of Kali Puja. But this time the prices are higher than last year because a huge stock of flowers got destroyed due to untimely heavy rains ahead of the festive season,” said a retailer at Kasba Bazaar, also in south Kolkata.
The prices of not just red hibiscus but almost all types of flowers used in puja rituals were extremely high in the retail markets of Kolkata on Monday.
On Monday, while saffron marigold was being sold between Rs 180 and 200 per kg, yellow marigold was selling between Rs 210 and 220 per kg.
On Monday, a piece of lotus was sold for between Rs 20 and Rs 25.
–IANS
Source/VD