Ahead of Sankranti, Bengaluru markets witness a surge in crowds and prices

Prices of vegetables, fruits, and other commodities have shot up in Bengaluru ahead of Sankranti, with the city’s major markets witnessing increased footfall.

Weekend shopping

Vendors at K.R. Market said footfall surged on Sunday, with most families stepping out for their weekend shopping. Demand for sugarcane and ellu-bella (a mixture of sesame, jaggery, dry coconut, peanuts, and other ingredients) has already risen, they said.

Ellu-bella, which was priced at ₹115 per kg last year, has now increased to ₹140. Sugarcane is selling at ₹200 for two pieces, compared to about ₹150 for two pieces earlier.

Common price

“The competition is very high, and a balance is achieved through uniform rates among vendors. We decide on a common price before the festival rush peaks,” said Santosh, a sugarcane vendor.

Most fruits have also seen a sharp rise in prices. “Pomegranates are selling at ₹200 per kg, compared to the earlier ₹130 per kg. Similarly, even yelakki bananas are priced at ₹60, higher than their usual rate of ₹40,” said Shahabuddin, a fruit seller at the market.

Vegetable vendors said their sales mainly pick up during the evening hours. “We adjust the prices in the evening as the market gets more crowded with the working population coming in to buy vegetables,” said Mohammad, a vendor at the market.

Yearly trend

Citizens said they have seen the same trend for many years, noting that prices are always at their highest during festival seasons. Prema Murthy, a customer, said that the prices of vegetables and fruits are now higher than they were in supermarkets. “The prices here are higher than in supermarkets, but we still come to the market because everything is fresh,” she said.

With the festival nearing, vendors say that the prices would go up further.