V. Muthulakshmi, 36, Turmeric seller
I am a farmer from Thenpazhanji. I cultivated turmeric in my one-acre farm and the produce has been exceptionally good this year. Thanks to the rains. Every Pongal, I sell turmeric at the B.B. Kulam Uzhavar Sandhai, transporting the turmeric bulbs from the village in a tempo. We start cultivating in the month of Aadi and the harvest is done in Thai. People buy it only two days before the festival, so that the leaves remain fresh to be tied around the neck of the Pongal pot. Turmeric is a symbol of auspiciousness and also an antiseptic. I sell a pair of the bulbs for Rs.10 or 20. It fetches me around Rs.10,000 every festive season. My husband Velmurugan is also a seller at Anna Nagar Uzhavar Sandhai. During the rest of the year, we sell lemons and vegetables grown in the farm. The rest of the turmeric is dried and sent for making cooking masalas after Pongal.
Karupanan, 61, Koorapoo seller
A week before Pongal, I and my wife venture into the forests next to our village Valasai near Palamedu in search of Koorapoo flowers. They are wild flowers and are not cultivated. Along with avarampoo, another native wild flower, the bunch is tied at the doorstep signifying the auspiciousness of the Thai month. I sell a bunch for Rs. 2 or 3. I make around Rs.1000 every Pongal selling about 500 bunches. I cycle all the way from my village to Madurai to sell the flowers. The money can only take care of myfestival expenses. For the rest of the year, I cultivate paddy. Pongal is a time for farmers to rejoice. This year has spelt good returns.
