Team Herald
PANJIM: Citizens across Goa, observing All Souls’ Day on November 2, found themselves grappling with steep flower prices, paying four times the regular rates across markets in Panjim, Mapusa, Margao, and other areas. With Diwali celebrations underway, flowers like roses, marigold, and chrysanthemums have become scarce, their costs skyrocketing due to unseasonal rains disrupting supply. Traditionally, roses and marigold are used in poojas, while Christians decorate graves on All Souls’ Day, creating high demand during both festivals.
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Speaking to O Heraldo, Prashant Naik, a flower dealer in Margao, remarked, “Diwali, Laxmi Pujan, and All Souls’ Day have coincided, and while prices typically increase during festive seasons, they haven’t surged as drastically as post-Covid-19.” Naik believes prices have only risen by 10-15%, attributing the fluctuations to natural demand cycles. He added that around 95% of Goa’s flowers come from Karnataka and Maharashtra, with only a small percentage grown locally.
Maria Rodrigues, a retail flower vendor in Mapusa, explained that wholesalers dictate prices, leaving local vendors little choice but to pass the costs to consumers. Wholesaler Raffique Mulla noted that unseasonal rains disrupted flower production, intensifying demand, and driving prices up during the festival season.
In Panjim, flower vendor Suhas Malik also confirmed the sharp price increases.
