Ahead of Shrawan month, in which devotees flock to temples of Lord Shiva to offer prayers, prices of flowers have gone up.
In the wholesale flower market at Naini, roses, which cost around Rs 300-400 per basket, are now selling for Rs 600-700 a basket. Prices of harsingar, white snake saffron flower, lotus and dried lotus stalks, kaner, kusum, kush, ball flowers, conch, bela, jasmine, shephalika and Agastya flowers as also of leaves of bel (wood apple) and dhatura have gone up too.
Traders in flower markets at Naini, Ram Bagh, Rajapur, Civil Lines and Chowk said prices of flowers had gone up due to various reasons, including monsoon and limited supply. They claimed that demand for all varieties of flowers had gone up manifold in Shrawan. Overall, price of flowers has increased by 30 to 40 %.
Religious scholar Dr Amitabh Gour said, "Shravan is one of the holiest and most revered months among devotees to offer special prayers to Lord Shiva during the entire month, which begins from Pratipada Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashadha. Rahul, who came to buy flowers from the city's wholesale flower market, said prices have risen significantly, with even roses being sold at high prices. "But despite the high prices this year, devotees will buy what all is necessary for rituals," he said.
Read more at Times of India
