Rain Hits the Fruit-Vegetable Markets

It is really a surprise for consumers that prices of vegetables have gone down in the market. It is contrary to consumers' anticipation of the soaring vegetable prices during the Onam season.



Traders in the vegetable market cited the non-stop rain in the state during the last few days is the main reason for the low price.



Xavior, a vegetable shop owner, said that prices may rise before Monday.



Prices of bananas have not increased. Besides incessant rain, large quantities of bananas from Tamil Nadu controlled the prices in the market. Banana price, which rose to Rs 40 a kg last week, has now decreased to Rs 34 in the retail market.



Drumstick price is down to Rs 15 a kg from Rs 250 a kg. Tomato price decreased to Rs 10 from Rs 20, lentil to Rs 15 from Rs 35 and cauliflower Rs 15 from Rs 35.



But the prices of onion and potato are almost stable.



The fruit market was much affected by the rain as merchants cannot keep fruits for a long time.

"Even if prices of fruits have decreased, there are not many customers because of the rain,'' a shop owner in the market says


Courtesy: City Journal

Hey, Its Onam !!!

Onam is in the air and the city is gearing up. Roadside hoardings and media advertisements with festival offers started enticing the shopper in every Keralite to splurge. For Malayalis, Onam today is a synonym for shopping.

A random look at Thrissur in this Onam.

Being the season of the ever classic and elegant Kerala Saris, various boutiques in the city have stocked their stores with latest designs in cream and gold.

“Kerala saris with block printed geometrical designs are the latest in trend. A highlight in Kerala sari collection is the saris that have double-coloured or tri-coloured pallus”, says the spokes person of Kalyan Silks. “Kerala Sarees with a mix of silver and gold zari work with contrast blouses are in. Embroidered Kerala Sarees starting from Rs.400 are also moving fast”, says a spokesperson of Emmanuel Silks. And as for those who want a change from the usual cream tint in their Kerala saris, there are greyish or maroonish tinged bodied with silver/gold zari work.

Shops work overtime and on Sundays as well to cater the bloated shopping fervour.

Thin green banana leaf, 35 piping hot dishes and God's own lunch served is the Onam dream of every Malayali. But unlike in the past, no body has time nor patience for such elaborate preparations. So, they do it for you.

On August 23rd, you can enjoy a riot of colours in your plate with steaming red boiled rice, avial, kaalan, olan, crispy salted yellow banana chips, a dash of red hot pickles and of course payasams by tucking into any of the restaurants. As the D-day approaches, all the restaurants in the city are busy planning something new to spice up their homely deal.

The enticing offers made available by dealers of electronic goods tell Onam is the best time to make these purchases. “The offers this year are so attractive,” says sales person of G Mart. Seeing the rush in the shops one may think that families are deferring purchases of such items till the season comes.

The allure of the gold is something a Malayali woman find difficult to resist. Alarming gold price hikes are not going to deter our obsession. Shop owners agree one thing: “Experience of the past years shows that festivities are exceeding and extending with every passing year”.

Even automobiles are riding in the boom. Hyson Motors has joined the celebration by introducing a night shopping to choose cars after office hours. Kids fest, attaractive offers, lucky draws and surprise gifts have become part of every shops in the city.

Roaming in the busy streets amidst traffic jams one may see many welcoming faces of salesmen sometimes in the garb of ‘mahabalis’. The shopping spell is sure to break the bank of many, with ‘onakodi’ for every family members and home appliances purchased with zest.

While engulfing in the festive spirit, do we forget the essence and virtues associated with this festival and our legendary king who dreamed of a virtuous and truthful society?