The price of local marigold is expected to increase this festive season as most marigolds have already blossomed in the fields, days ahead of the festival. This will consequently affect the supply in the market, say florists. The rise in prices can also be attributed to the festival taking place a little late this year, as the festival got pushed back because of the occurrence of an intercalary month in the lunar calendar.
During the festival, doors and windows are decorated with long strings of flowers sewn together, particularly marigolds. The festival of flowers and lights begins from November 6.
The wholesale price of a metre of marigold garland is expected to cost Rs60 to Rs100 [0.51-0.85 USD], depending on the quality, according to florists. The wholesale rate was Rs55 to Rs100 [0.47-0.85 USD] last Tihar. Traditionally, 40 flowers are sewn together in a garland.
Kumar Kasaju Shrestha, president of Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), said that the price has increased due to rise in production and transportation costs. The flower garland business was worth Rs75 million [636,000 USD] last Tihar, and FAN expects business to hover at Rs110 million [933,000 USD] this Tihar.
According to Shrestha, there is a demand of 2.2 million flowers across the country for Tihar. In that, the demand for 1.9 million flowers are fulfilled through domestic production, while the remaining is met by import from India.