Chennai: The Vinayagar Chaturthi festival was celebrated with enthusiasm in Chennai and its suburban areas. Although the prices of flowers and fruits had risen, people bought them eagerly at the last minute.
To celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Vinayaka, Vinayagar Chaturthi is observed every year on the Chaturthi day in the waxing phase of the month of Aavani.
Accordingly, special prayers will be held today in all temples across Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi. Extensive arrangements for this have been made by the respective temple administrations.
Devotees coming to the temples will be offered prasadam items including sundal, sugar pongal, curd rice, sambar rice, pongal, and kozhukattai.
In many places, arrangements have also been made for annadhanam. Earlier, in Chennai, on the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi, crowds surged yesterday in places including Koyambedu, Mylapore, Purasawalkam, T. Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Broadway, Vadapalani, and Saidapet.
Temporary roadside stalls were set up, and items such as puffed rice, apples, oranges, sweet lime, corn, guava, sugarcane, and tender coconut were sold briskly.
As far as the Koyambedu market was concerned, flower prices had risen many times over. One kilogram of jasmine was sold at Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000, chrysanthemum at Rs. 120 to Rs. 250, mullai at Rs. 300 to Rs. 900, and sampangi at Rs. 50 to Rs. 500.
Like flowers, fruit prices had also increased. One kilogram of apples was sold at Rs. 220 to Rs. 250, imported apples at Rs. 250 to Rs. 300, pomegranates at Rs. 180 to Rs. 200, and oranges at Rs. 200 to Rs. 250.
In addition, sweet lime was sold at Rs. 60 to Rs. 80, seedless grapes at Rs. 120 to Rs. 150, green grapes at Rs. 150 to Rs. 200, black grapes at Rs. 150, sapota at Rs. 60, and guava at Rs. 100 to Rs. 150. Banana leaves also saw a sharp rise in price. One banana leaf was sold for Rs. 20 to Rs. 30.
Since auspicious days and Vinayagar Chaturthi coincided, the prices of flowers and fruits had risen many times over, but people, undeterred in their festive enthusiasm, went ahead and bought the items.
This week-long spiritual festival has begun across Tamil Nadu in temples with extensive security and prasadam arrangements, which is noteworthy.