Pune: The demand for marigold flowers surged in Pune as citizens prepared for the Dussehra festival, one of the most auspicious occasions in the Hindu calendar.

On Friday, the flower market at Pune's Market Yard witnessed the arrival of an impressive 200 tons of marigolds, with prices ranging from ₹80 to ₹120 per kilogram, depending on the quality.

Flowers such as chrysanthemums, asters, gladiolus, gerbera, and roses were also in high demand, as people thronged the markets to purchase them for the festival.

Since the start of Dussehra preparations, there has been a significant inflow of flowers into the Market Yard. In the last two days alone, over 300 tons of marigolds were brought in from Pune, Solapur, Dharashiv, Beed, and Hingoli regions.

Farmers, who brought their flowers to the market, expressed satisfaction with this year's prices, which were better than last year. However, recent rainfall affected the quality of marigolds to some extent, as mentioned by flower trader Sagar Bhosale.

The Market Yard was bustling with activity from Friday morning as garland sellers and retail buyers gathered in large numbers to make their purchases. Due to the increased supply, marigold prices dipped slightly compared to previous days.

Meanwhile, the demand for other flowers, including white and yellow chrysanthemums, remained high, with prices reaching up to ₹200 per kilogram.

The surge in flower sales caused significant traffic congestion in the Market Yard area, especially on Shivneri Road, Bhusar Market, and Nehru Road. Farmers set up stalls on the streets, leading to traffic jams as buyers flocked to purchase marigolds. Despite the traffic, many retailers managed to transport the flowers to smaller markets in tempos and rickshaws.

Adding to the chaos, many of the security guards tasked with maintaining order and managing traffic were absent from their posts. Dr. Rajaram Dhondkar, the Secretary of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), and his team worked throughout the day to reduce congestion and ensure that farmers had enough space to sell their flowers. Despite their efforts, the absence of security personnel worsened the situation.

The flower market saw a sharp increase in the supply of marigolds, chrysanthemums, roses, asters, and other flowers, with around 500 to 600 pickups transporting flowers to different locations.

Despite the challenges, this year's flower prices remained favorable, making it a profitable season for farmers.