By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

With Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja being celebrated on Wednesday (October 1, 2025), markets across the city witnessed heavy rush on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) as people turned out in large numbers to buy vegetables, fruits, and puja essentials.

Shoppers purchased banana stems, puffed rice, coconuts, mango leaves, banana bunches, sugarcane, ash gourd, flowers, and other festival items. From early morning, the Nethaji Daily Vegetable and Fruit Market, along with Uzhavar Sandhai at Sampathand Periyar Nagars, remained packed with buyers, while temporary stalls along the roadsides also did brisk business.

Buyers complained of steep price hikes, with several items costing over 50% more than usual. Chrysanthemum (Sevvanthi), in particular, were sold at over triple the regular rate. Traders attributed the increase to high demand, pointing out that families across income groups observe the festival on a grand scale. They also noted that prices would likely peak further on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, transport hubs, including the central bus stand and railway station, were filled with passengers travelling for the festival. Tourist spots such as Kodiveri anicut also drew larger crowds, boosted by the school vacation that coincides with the festivities.