KOCHI: The flower markets in the city are all set to lure the crowds from Atham, the first day of the Onam season. Gone are the days when people used to pay a visit to the Pookaranmukku near Padma Theatre, the favourite destination of Kochiites.Now, flowers are available in every nook and cranny of the city. The flower sellers from Tamil Nadu have been eagerly waiting for the arrival of the festive season.The vendors have been selling flowers at temporary stalls near the North railway station and other places throughout the year. With the beginning of the Onam season, they become more active as there is huge money earned during the period. These shops are flooded with different hues of Marigold. According to Unnikrishnan who operates permanent flower market in the city, loads of flowers have arrived from various places like Bangalore, Ooty and Coimbatore.As usual, this time also the prices have spiralled. The cost of yellow and orange jamanthi which was less than `150 a kg is hovering around `200. The cost of white marigold is `300. Unnikrishnan said that the rush was slightly low on Atham eve as it turned out to be a holiday. But he expressed the hope that crowds would turn up on Wednesday. However, Dilish, another trader near Ernakulam North, said the market conditions could not be predicted.There are chances of prices going down or surging up depending upon the requirement of the people. He said that white Jamandhi was ruling at `250 per kg while the yellow and orange at `180. Vadamalli flower was being sold at Rs 150. The demand can be predicted only after three to four days, Unnikrishnan said.
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