Colourful delights

Pardeshi has added a new variety this year – the paasri mix gajra,which comes for Rs 20. The white gulthali which would cost around Rs 20 a kilo is now Rs 30. “Seasonal flowers have no market except for Shravan and Ramadan,” says Raskar who looks forward to the month of Shravan to sell the sweet smelling mogras. He feels the month brings along freshness and a good change,breaking the monotony of the regular flowers like gerberas and roses which he sells round the year.

And when it is festive season that we are talking about then coconuts are impossible to miss. Yogesh Warpe,a seller at Shanipar says,“Coconut,one of the most essential ingredients in Maharashtrian cuisine,feels proud when it is sold ten times more.” He smiles as he beckons at passers-by while guarding his tiny stall filled with the brown nut-shells. Despite the month of Shravan,Warpe sells coconuts at the same rate,“I increase the price only on Mondays,Fridays and Saturdays,because of the vrats which people keep,” he adds.

Padmakant Dimber,the owner of a fruit stall in Mandai,considers the month of Ramadan as the month of prosperity. “There is an inter-connection between Goddess Lakshmi and Islam. It is for Ramadan that Lakshmi flows in to my home,” says Dimber,who sells most of his fruits during this time.“People crib about the increase in the prices and bargain,but we cannot help much as our cost price also increases,” adds Amit Kachi,who earns the maximum profits with the sale of papayas and apples during this time.The green leafy veggies fly off the shelf as well. “People prefer ladies-finger,gawar and rajma to the black variety of brinjal,” says Uday Pawar who tries to maintain an affordable price for all the vegetables.

Though Shravan increases the demand and the subsequent supply,the stock is required to be cleared very soon. “Unpredictable rains spoil our stock. So we do not negotiate with the customer too much and give in easily when they bargain,” says Pawar.