The dark clouds and the drizzle have given way to sunshine. The wholesale flower and fruit sellers at Gudimalkapur near Mehdipatnam are relieved. The compound that houses the largest wholesale flower market in the city is not a pretty picture. The stretch of land leading to the market is uneven, filled with slush and buffaloes loiter around, unmindful of the two wheelers and cars nearby. The vehicles are loaded with sacks of jasmine buds and chrysanthemums, ready to be transported to other markets in the city.
On the fringes of the market are rows of shops selling garlands. The younger lot sits perched up on wooden surfaces, weaving the flowers together into garlands. Business is dull, they tell us, since the wedding season is weeks away. The flower sellers, though, are gearing up for Varalakshmi Puja, which falls on Friday.
Mounds of marigolds, chrysanthemums, jasmines, pink roses, orange and pink double-coloured roses, deep red roses, ‘tulasi’ leaves, ‘kanakambarams’ and ‘maruvam’ leaves greet buyers. It’s easier if you know the local names. The chrysanthemums are ‘chamanthis’, marigolds are ‘banthi puvvulu’, red roses are referred to as ‘rubies’, the orange-pink double coloured roses are called ‘tiger’ for some strange reason and the pink ones are ‘gulabis’. The sunrays falling on the yellow tarpaulin shelters enhance the golden hues of the marigolds and chrysanthemums.
Some of the stock comes from gardens in Shamshabad, while most flowers come from Bangalore, Hosur and Ooty. “These red roses will stay fresh for four days. The going rate today is Rs. 100 per kilo. By Thursday afternoon and Friday, the rates will be higher,” says Chandrakanth, a wholesale seller. A customer tries to strike a bargain in vain. “We don’t make much profit. Our rates depend on the stock and the demand,” says Banu, who sells jasmines at Rs.100 per 300 gm.
Elsewhere, on Jambagh Road, off the Mozamjahi market, bright blue tarpaulin sheets are in place to shelter the vendors and the stock from brief spells of rain. We walk past the sweet limes, pomegranates, peaches, plums, kiwis and watermelons and spot rows of flower shops. The stock from Gudimalkapur finds its way to these markets, apart from Secunderabad, Ameerpet and other areas.
Salman, a resident of Jambagh, unloads a sack of roses as he talks to us. “People come here from Abids, Nampally, Siddiambar Bazaar and other areas to buy flowers,” he says. Salman has been looking after the shop set up by his father.
Many sellers in this area have been in the flower business over generations. Their fortunes ebb and flow with the change in season. As the demand goes up, so does the price. Gulabis that are sold here at Rs. 150 per kilo will fetch Rs. 200 to 250 before a festival. The prices depend on the sum that these vendors have to shell out while sourcing their stock from the Gudimalkapur flower market. “If the prices go up in Mehdipatnam, we have no choice but to hike up the rates here. But the flowers sold here are cheaper than in Ameerpet and Secunderabad, at least by Rs. 15 to 20 per kilo,” says Vinod Kumar, intermittently sprinkling water to keep the flowers fresh.
Transporting, storing and selling flowers is one part of the job. Stringing the flowers together is another task. “On a regular day, I make garlands from a few baskets full of flowers. For Varlakshmi puja, we buy a few quintals of flowers. All of us at home — women and children — string together marigolds and chrysanthemums, jasmines and tulasi leaves,” says Saritha, his wife.
As we leave the market, what keeps these vendors going during the off season, we wonder. “This is what we know and we are happy doing it,” says Sarita, with a smile.
