Ayudha Pooja Rush Sends Bengaluru Flower and Fruit Prices Soaring

Sunday saw Bengaluru’s bustling market lanes swell with families hunting for the right blooms and fruits to celebrate Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami. From the historic K.R. Market to the leafy aisles of Malleshwaram and the busy stalls of Yeshwanthpur, shoppers were out in force despite a noticeable jump in prices.

What used to be a routine stop for a few bunches of sevanthi, jasmine or roses now feels like a wallet‑stretching mission. A kilogram of sevanthi, which a month ago could be bought for about ₹80, is fetching as much as ₹400 today. Jasmine, once priced between ₹700‑₹1,000 per dozen, now hovers around ₹1,800‑₹2,000. Loose roses have leapt from ₹80 to roughly ₹250 per dozen, while the prized kanakambara flower has surged from ₹1,000 to a staggering ₹4,000 per bundle.

Fruit sellers are feeling the heat too. Apples are changing hands at ₹220‑₹355 per kilogram, butter fruit and pomegranates sit at about ₹250 each, and sapota and mosambi are hovering in the ₹80‑₹85 range. Even the humble Yelakki banana, a staple for many households, can cost up to ₹120 per dozen.

Specialty pooja items are not spared. A pair of banana stems – the traditional offering for vehicle worship – can set you back ₹120 in some corners of the city. Mango leaves, essential for decorative garlands, run between ₹30‑₹50 per bunch, while ash gourds, the preferred containers for holy water, are priced anywhere from ₹100 to ₹150 depending on size.

Vendors point to a dry spell in the monsoon as the main culprit. “We had a weak rainfall this year, so the harvest from nearby districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur and even Tamil Nadu is lighter,” said a senior trader at K.R. Market. “That scarcity pushes the cost up, and with the festival rush it’s a perfect storm.” Traders usually note a modest 5‑10% rise during the festive period, but this year some items have jumped as much as 50%.

For many families, the decision is simple – buy only what’s absolutely needed. “Ayudha Pooja comes only once a year, so we can’t skip the flowers or the banana stems,” explained a shopper from Jayanagar, clutching a small bouquet of roses. “But we’re also trying to keep the quantity low so the bill doesn’t blow up.”

Hopeful eyes are on the calendar; once the festival rush eases, prices may settle back to more familiar levels. Until then, Bengaluru’s residents are balancing tradition with a tighter purse string, navigating the colourful, yet costly, streets of their city’s beloved markets.