Prices of flowers like marigold, tuberose, chrysanthemum and rose have shot through the roof in Bengal because large consignments from the state went to Ayodhya, leaving traders struggling to match supply with the demand.
According to trade estimates, close to 20,000kg of flowers was sent to Ayodhya from various parts of Bengal for the consecration of the Ram temple there.
The obvious fallout, traders said, has been a hike in the retail prices of flowers.
Tuberose chains, which sold for Rs 300 per bunch of 100 on January 15 in the wholesale markets, are now selling for 700.
Roses that cost Rs 400 for every bunch of 100 flowers a week back sold for Rs 700 on Monday.
The price of marigold chains has shot up from Rs 100 for 20 chains a week back to Rs 200. The price of the yellow variety of marigold, also sold in bunches of 20 chains each, has risen from Rs 150 on January 15 to Rs 300.
A dozen chrysanthemums sold at Rs 60 at retail markets on Monday. A week ago the price was Rs 40.
“Consignments sent to Ayodhya was one reason for the spike in prices. Another reason was a marked increase in the demand for flowers on Monday because several trusts decorated temples maintained by them to mark the consecration of the Ram temple,” said Narayan Chandra Nayek, general secretary of the Sara Bangla Phool Chashi O Phool Byabsayee Samiti.
“The demand for flowers was phenomenal on Monday and the supply gap was huge.”
Not just flowers, leaves of debdaru, kamini and other trees were also sent to Ayodhya from across the state, traders said.
The Bengal districts from where the consignments went to Ayodhya included East Midnapore, Nadia, North 24-Parganas, East Burdwan, Birbhum and Howrah.
Panskura, the flower hub of Bengal, sent around 5,000kg of marigolds and chrysanthemums to Ayodhya. Flower traders from Ranaghat and Dhubulia in Nadia came close second.
Others sent their consignments to wholesale markets in Kolkata, from where
they were dispatched to Ayodhya.
The orders had reached a little over a week ago and the consignments started moving out from Friday night and early on Saturday.
“Some of our men travelled all the way to Ayodhya to ensure that the consignments were handled care-
fully and there were no delays in transit,” said Ashim
Maity, a trader from Panskura. “Similar consignments reached from other states — Bihar, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.”
Flower traders pointed out that the consecration of the temple coincided with the wedding season in Bengal, which sees a spurt in the demand for flowers.
“Marriages are lined up throughout this month and it is unlikely that the prices of flowers will go down anytime soon,” Nayek said. “A section of flower traders will use this opportunity to increase the rates further.”