Monday 11 March 2013

It’s a field day for sellers of ‘ketaki’ flowers in Silk city Berhampur


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.
 Restrictions
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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