The only solace

Ash gourds find a pride of place in every household and work place on the Ayudha Puja day.

A hole is cut into the top of the vegetable, into which kumkum and coins are placed. The hole is then plugged.

The people after completing the work of cleaning, decorating, and offering prayers, smash the ash gourd on the ground signifying the completion of the puja process.

The Salem markets are flooded with ash gourds from different parts of the district.

The heavy arrivals has brought down the price of the vegetable.

The traders procure ash gourds at Rs. 5 a kg at the fields itself. They are sold at Rs. 10 a kg to Rs. 15 a kg at the retail markets, said S. Palani, president, Ananda Vegetable Market, Salem.

With more ash gourds are expected to arrive from the villages in the next couple of days, the price is expected to come down further, he added.