Commodities for Vinayagar Chaturthi arrive at Koyambedu market

CHENNAI: Retailers and general public thronged Koyambedu wholesale market on Monday after 300 vehicles of commodities arrived ahead of Vinayagar Chaturthi.

Both fruit and flower markets are packed with customers purchasing sugarcane, banana plant rhizomes, and scutch grass (arugampul) for the auspicious occasion.

Traders stated that prices remain stable from previous years, and if there is a demand for the products it is expected to increase tomorrow. S Muthukumar, a semi-wholesale trader at Koyambedu market said, "After two years, without the pandemic restrictions almost all the varieties of flowers and fruits for Vinayagar Chaturthi arrived here. Despite rain, customers arrived to purchase from 7 am today. The market is witnessing a brisk sale on a festival after a long gap."

Several varieties of items for the festival arrived from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Elephant fruit (velankaai), pear are sold for Rs 36 per kg and Rs 40 per kg respectively, sugarcane for (20 pieces) Rs 400. Flower varieties, including marigold Rs 150 per kg, Jasmine Rs 500 per kg, lotus, crown flower arrived at the market for Vinayagar Chaturthi.

"As we witnessed brisk sale from Monday morning, prices did not surge as expected. It is likely to be stable for the next two days. Already, some flowers are in bad shape due to intense rain. We sell them at the lowest price to avoid wastage," S Mookandi, Secretary of Koyambedu Flower Merchants Association.