The city’s markets are a scene of buzzing activity a day before any major festival, and it was no different on Tuesday. Vendors lined up with the wares that are exclusive to Vinayaka Chaturthi and did their preliminary business in the morning, even as they prepared for the traditional evening rush.
Garlands and bunches of bermuda grass (arugam pul) and crown flowers (erukkam poo), believed by Hindus to be favourites of the elephant-faced god, sold briskly. While most buyers did not pause too long before buying these two Vinayaka Chaturthi essentials, they did take time before taking their pick out of the rash of colourful paper and cloth umbrellas that are meant to provide cover to clay Ganeshas at home.
Both vendors and the shoppers were aware of the business trends that usually come with shopping for the festival. “We do not line out all our stock in the morning before Vinayaka Chaturthi. Most of the sale happens in the evening,” said Chitra, who has been selling Vinayaka Chaturthi supplies at Mylapore for the past 15 years. “As the evening draws to a close, we usually bring the prices down gradually. We have to ensure that we sell all our wares if we are to make the most of our investment,” she added.
Even though prices tend to be lower in the evening, there is a certain benefit to shopping in the mornings, according to some shoppers. “The evenings are usually crowded,” mumbled Venkatraman, as he picked out a clay Ganesha. “There used to be a time when I would shop in the evening to get a good deal. But I am old now. I cannot handle large crowds. So, I don’t mind paying a little bit more as long as I get to finish off the shopping in peace,” he said.
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