Belagavi residents are feeling the squeeze as prices of essentials and festive items soar in Deepavali. The costs of vegetables, food grains, and edible oils have surged, straining household budgets. Despite this, markets in Belagavi have seen a large crowd of shoppers in recent days. Traditionally, traders mark up prices during Deepavali, sometimes doubling or tripling them.
This year, however, heavy monsoon rains have reduced the supply of essentials like vegetables, driving prices even higher. No vegetable is priced below Rs 80 per kg, with chilies, capsicum, bitter gourd, beans, and cauliflower all ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 140. Garlic now costs Rs 320-400 per kg, and onions are priced at Rs 60-80 per kg.
Flower prices have also spiked, with marigolds and chrysanthemums in high demand for the festival but low in supply due to disease following the heavy rains. Marigolds, previously Rs 40-50 per kg, now cost Rs 80-100, while chrysanthemums are priced at Rs 160-200 per kg. Mahantesh Murgod, deputy director of the horticulture department, confirmed that rains have damaged several horticultural crops.
Cooking oil prices have also climbed since the central government raised import duties; sunflower oil rose from Rs 120 to Rs 150, and groundnut oil reached Rs 180 per kg. Decorative items have not been spared, with a 25-30% price hike reported. Nonetheless, the festive rush in Belagavi’s markets continues, despite the financial strain on consumers.
