Flower prices skyrocket in Madurai and southern districts ahead of Ayudha puja

Representative file image. | Photo credit: R. ASHOK

As households in Tamil Nadu prepare to celebrate Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja, Madurai and the surrounding southern regions have been reeling from a surge in prices of essential festival commodities.

Primary among the holiday inflation is the dramatic rise in flower prices, with popular varieties seeing multiple jumps overnight due to a sudden surge in demand and tight supplies.

Markets in major centers like Madurai and Dindigul witnessed bustling crowds from early morning, but buyers were met with staggering prices. Premium varieties such as jasmine have soared and sell between ₹1,000 and ₹1,800 per kilogram depending on the region and market.

Meanwhile, specialty flowers like kanakambaram have hit all-time highs, fetching up to ₹2,000 per kilogram in districts like Thanjavur. Other puja staples, including mullai, chrysanthemum and rose paneer, have also doubled or tripled compared to non-festive weeks.

Traders and local vendors attribute the sharp escalation to the classic festive supply-demand mismatch, compounded by recent weather conditions affecting crop yields in the agricultural belt.

“Demand for floral decorations and traditional worship during Ayudha Puja increases sharply,” explained a flower wholesaler at the Madurai Flower Market. “With incessant rain in some growing areas impacting transport and arrivals, the limited supplies coming into the markets are immediately sold out at higher prices,” he added.

In addition to the flower markets, the inflationary crisis has spread to other major components of the celebrations. Essential festival items such as puffed rice, bananas and seasonal fruits have seen significant price jumps.

While farmers benefit temporarily from high market prices, everyday consumers and small business owners bear the brunt of the inflated costs.

People throng Ramanathapuram bazaar to buy various items for Ayudha Puja on Sunday. | Photo credit: BALACHANDAR L

As families rush to complete their festive preparations amid high costs, this year’s Ayudha Puja serves as a stark reminder of how seasonal fluctuations continue to test the resilience of everyday household budgets.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 13:16 IST