Streets teem with last-minute shoppers on Thiruvonam eve in Kerala

Keralites thronged markets, malls, and textile shops in a last-minute feverish hunt for must-have items and value-for-money bargains on the eve of Thiruvonam, arguably the most important holiday in the State’s festival calendar, on Thursday. 

The shopping holiday spirit seemed particularly ubiquitous at the iconic Chala Market in Thiruvananthapuram, Broadway in Kochi, and SM Street in Kozhikode. 

The tradition of Uthrada Pachil, a last-minute shopping frenzy on the day before Thiruvonam, appeared to endure strongly across Kerala. Business seemed brisk at the long rows of flowers, vegetables and grocery shops dotting the nearly two-century-old Chala market. 

Asokan, a wholesale vegetable trader who also supplies to prominent hotels in Thiruvananthapuram, said the Onam demand has marginally pushed up the price of perishables. “Growers in neighbouring States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu slightly delay supplies, anticipating the massive upswing in requirement during Onam, resulting in higher prices. However, the price escalation this season is at a lesser degree compared to past years”, he said. 

Pottuvelu Subramanian, the head of one of the oldest trading houses in Kerala, stated that the price of green gram, jaggery, sugar, food grains, toor dal, dried chilli, urad dal, and other groceries were at an all-time low.

15% cut in prices

“Kharif harvest was abundant this year. Moreover, the supply chain remained robust with no challenges, including strikes, to freight movement. There has been a minimum 15% overall reduction in the price of groceries”, he said. 

Arulakam Prem, proprietor of one of the oldest vegetarian hotels in Thiruvananthapuram, said coconut oil prices remained at an all-time high, forcing restaurateurs to shift to less expensive edible oils.

“Suppliers have jacked up coconut oil prices by at least ₹80 a litre. However, a rich harvest and optimal climate have caused the price of plantains and banana leaves, both much in demand during Onam, to remain stable,” he said. 

Onam wonderlands

Upscale malls, car and motorbike showrooms, and retail chains transformed their expansive premises into Onam wonderlands, complete with artists dressed as Mahabali, the mythical king and festival mascot. At many textile showrooms, traditional art performances, including Kathakali, Theyyam and Chenda Melam, lured customers.

Busy streets were abuzz with pavement vendors hawking cheap toys, affordable apparel, trinkets, imitation jewellery, and announcing pocket-friendly bargains.