Southern markets bustle before Pongal

Festive Shopping Ahead of Pongal in Tamil Nadu

People from Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi districts are visiting marketplaces to buy festive goods for Pongal. Traders in these districts have stocked a variety of items, including sugarcane, pottery, tubers, and turmeric.

The harvest festival, celebrated across Tamil Nadu on January 15, brings festive cheer to the southern districts. Markets in the four districts are seeing an influx of goods from other parts of the state. Many people have started their Pongal shopping early to avoid the last-minute rush.

Local Shopping Trends

Lalitha from Putheri bought a bundle of palmyra tubers at Vadasery market. She said, “I usually prefer shopping three to four days ahead of Pongal. By then, goods from other districts start arriving, and it is easier for buyers to bargain and purchase items without any rush.”

She noted that she used to buy large quantities of tubers and sugarcane, but has reduced her purchases as her children have settled abroad.

Vendor Insights

Murugan, a roadside vendor, mentioned that turmeric plants used to sell in large quantities. “However, it has reduced over time, as people now buy them mainly to follow the tradition of tying them around the Pongal pot,” he said.

He sources turmeric plants from Tenkasi district and sells them for ₹50 to ₹80, depending on size. “We spend a huge amount on transportation, and plants tend to wilt easily,” he added.

Market Dynamics

According to Ramesh, president of the Vadasery Market Traders Union, the market has lost its appeal recently. Fewer people visit because many now prefer AAPTA market at Ozhuginasery. “Usually, this is the peak sales season. However, the festive spirit is picking up at a slow pace,” he stated.

In contrast, AAPTA is bustling with traders and shoppers from various parts of the district buying vegetables, fruits, and other essentials for Pongal.

“Goods have already started arriving, with people beginning their purchases. People usually give ‘Pongal padi’, gifts and ritual items sent from maternal homes to daughters, a week in advance, so business is doing well,” said Paulraj, president of AAPTA Market Traders Association.

He added that market hours will be extended beyond 11 p.m. as this period is crucial for many traders.

Traditional Goods and Pricing

Arumugam, a pottery trader from Palayamkottai, feels that the number of people buying traditional clay pots has declined. “We usually set up stalls only during December and January, depending on Pongal sales. However, even this has been affected in recent times,” he lamented.

Clay pots and terracotta stoves are sold for ₹150-₹170, depending on the variant selected.

Sudhan, a sugarcane vendor from Nagercoil, noted that a sugarcane bundle with 15 sticks costs between ₹500 and ₹550, while a single piece costs ₹50. He observed that fewer people are buying bundles, as families are getting smaller and many prefer one or two stalks.

Festive Spirit in Thoothukudi

Roads in Thoothukudi are lively with pop-up shops selling terracotta pottery, rangoli powder, sugarcane, and tubers. Farmers from northern Thoothukudi, including Kulasekarapattinam, Udangudi, and Sathankulam, have started harvesting palmyra tubers ahead of Pongal.

A. Varadharajan of Karisal Bhoomi Farmers’ Association wants the government to include palmyra tubers in the Pongal gift hampers distributed to beneficiaries, as this would benefit palmyra tuber farmers in the state.

Jeyasingh, a wholesale banana merchant from Thoothukudi, noted that the Pongal festive spirit is picking up, with sales improving over the past few days, though they remain lower than pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. “Before the pandemic, around 3,000 banana bunches were sold in a single day during Pongal. However, it has now reduced to 1,500 to 2,000,” he said.

Despite variations in sales of commodities, traders and farmers remain hopeful of earning well and clearing their stock during the festival season.

Summary of Key Facts