For the lovers of Mattu Gulla, there is good news — the vegetable is now available in the markets here. While the wholesale price of Mattu Gulla Grade 1 is ₹ 75 per kg, it is ₹ 40 per kg for Grade 2.
The retail price for Grade 1 is about ₹ 120 to ₹ 150 per kg, while it is Grade 2 is about ₹ 70 to ₹ 75 kg, subject to market fluctuations.
Mattu Gulla is a seasonal vegetable and its seeds are sown in August/September after the monsoon. It is usually available from October/November to May.
According to Dr. Joshi, the Mattu Gulla is different from other gullas as it does not darken quickly after cutting. It also boils quickly than the other gullas.
Legend
Legend has it that about 400 years ago, Sri Vadiraja of Sode Mutt, one of the Ashta Mutts of Udupi, gave the seeds of this special brinjal to farmers of Mattu village to cultivate.
Hence, since then, the farmers offer Mattu Gulla to the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple in Udupi during the “Horekanike” of the biennial Paryaya festival. They also offer a portion of their first crop annually to the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple.
