Peasants from villages on the outskirts of the city got a
good income due to heavy demand for ‘ketaki’ flowers, sugarcane, and otherwise
unused flowers for Sivaratri celebrations. The peasants, including women, opened their makeshift stalls
by the side of busy roads and Siva temples in and around the city. They had a
god profit because the urban dwellers still have to stick to agrarian rituals
and offerings attached to Sivaratri.
‘Ketaki’ variety of kewra or Screw Pine with botanical name
‘Pandanus fascicularis’ had greatest demand. These flowers were being sold for
Rs. 200 to Rs. 350 per piece in Berhampur market. It is the only day on which
these flowers are offered to Lord Siva. Moreover, these flowers bloom only
during this time of the year.
Kewra plantations are abundant in Ganjam district. The
district is the largest producer of this aromatic flower in the country. But
bushes of ‘ketaki’ variety of kewra are a fewer in Ganjam district. Each flower
of other abundant variety of kewra flower called ‘kia’ fetched around Rs. 10 to
Rs. 20. As per kewra growers, there is a difference between the leaves and
flowers of ‘kia’ and ‘ketaki’ variety kewra flower. ‘Kia’ flowers have strong
smell while smell of ‘ketaki’ is mild. Some of the ‘ketaki’ flower sellers have
also got some stock from Puri district to add to their profits.
Owing to restrictions on gutka and pan masala manufacturing
units leading to closure of large number of kewra distilleries in Ganjam
district, the kewra growers also had their income dwindling. Demand for kewra
flowers has got reduced. These kewra growers also managed to get some income by
selling their flowers to devotees during Sivaratri. Source: the hindu
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