Leading up to the Pongal festival, scheduled to commence on January 15, the Kanchipuram flower market confronts a challenge as an abundance of flowers has resulted in a substantial price drop. Situated adjacent to Koyembedu in Chennai, this well-known market traditionally witnesses traders procuring flowers from various districts and villages surrounding Kanchipuram.
Jasmine is currently priced at Rs 2,000 per kg, marigold at Rs 120 per kg, mulberry at Rs 1,000 per kg, and rose at Rs 140 per kg. However, florists express concern about the market’s relative emptiness, attributing the decline in prices to the extensive sale of flowers on Bogi just before the festival. Flower dealer Venkatesan speculates that prices might rebound in the coming days, anticipating a rise tomorrow and the day after due to the continued high arrival of flowers in Kanchipuram. He states, “The price of flowers has fallen today, and the price of flowers may increase tomorrow and the day after because the arrival of flowers to Kanchipuram is high.”
Meanwhile, in Madurai, the harvest of ‘Sengarumbu’ or Pongal sugarcane has commenced as the Tamil Nadu Civic Supply Corporation began procurement to include in Pongal gift hampers distributed through ration shops. The corporation plans to procure 7.67 lakhs of sugarcane for distribution to ration cardholders in the district.
Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community, expressing gratitude to the Sun, Mother Nature, and farm animals contributing to a bountiful harvest. Spanning four days, Pongal marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, usually falling on the 14th or 15th of January each year. The festival includes various rituals, with the first day, Bhogi, focused on cleaning and discarding old belongings for a fresh start. The second day, Surya Pongal, honours the Sun God, with households preparing a pot of fresh rice with milk, shouting “Pongalo Pongal” as it boils over. The third day, Maatu Pongal, is dedicated to worshipping cattle, while the fourth day, Kaanum Pongal, emphasizes community and strengthening familial bonds.
While Pongal is not a gazetted holiday nationwide, it holds religious significance, particularly in South and Central India. In these regions, schools and colleges remain closed for all four days of Pongal, and businesses related to agriculture also observe closures.
