Flowers represent
a symbol of love, friendship and even, prestige. Be
it a doe- eyed lover proposing to his sweetheart, a
'get well soon' wish or arrangements at different hotels,
flowers have the grace to enhance any occasion. Today
with budgets getting tighter, buying flowers are kept
at a low priority. But not anymore, what with a place
in our very own Delhi, where you can buy flowers
at a very low price.
A bunch of six dozen red roses is available at
Rs 100, which in the retail market will cost around
Rs 450. If you are looking for some exotic and different
flowers well you have hit the right place. From Dahlia
to Carnations to Chrysanthemums, Orchids, Daisy and
even Palm arrangements. A bunch of Rajnigandha
is available for Rs 50, a bunch of lovely Dutch roses
for Rs 80, a loose rose stem for Rs 2.50, which in the
retail market would cost anywhere between Rs 10 per
steam. A bunch of lovely yellow and maroon chrysanthemums
for Rs 25, Rs 80 for long stemmed bunch of Gladioli
in lovely hues for Rs 75, A huge bunch of orchids
for Rs 130. Greens like China asparagus go for
Rs 220 per kilo and other varieties of grass at Rs 160
a kilo. Rs 30 for fan- palm stems, a bunch of Daffodils
for mere Rs 30. The flowers here are available at rock
bottom prices and there is a scope for bargaining too!
The market is located in the heart of Delhi, which is
central Delhi at Baba Kharag Singh Marg, opposite
Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place and
the market usually operates from 5:30 am to 9:30 am
daily. Delhi constitutes the largest domestic market
for flowers and this is the city's main flower bazaar.
Florists, hotels contractors, agents with the corporate
sector can be seen here buying flowers in bulk. But
for the retail buyers the flowers are available at a
very reasonable price. As Anju Sharma, a professor of
Political Science at Delhi University puts it, "I
am a flower lover and frequent this place often to decorate
my house. But these days the florists sell a decent
rose for Rs 8- 10 and an entire bouquet can cost anywhere
around Rs 200- 400, but here I buy loose flowers and
that too a different variety at a very cheap price and
I can do the setting as I like, I can actually decorate
my house under Rs 150 including the cost of the basket."
You can also pick up cane and wicker baskets in different
shapes and sizes, dried flower decorations, colourful
ferns and grasses, flower holders and even wrapping
paper and ribbons. Loose marigold, garlands in marigold
and chrysanthemums are also available. There are many
varieties of green grass, stems and foliage, which are
at Rs 3-4 a bunch. Some sellers in the market also take
orders for pandal, marriage and car decorations. The
boom time for the traders is winter with weddings, New
Year and Valentine's Day coming up.
Flowers come here from Banglore, Pune, Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Rajasthan and also from Mehrauli and
farms in the neighbourhood of Delhi. But why do these
vendors sell flowers at such a low price? Actually all
of them are wholesale suppliers who quote minimum prices.
According to V K Singh of Camson Agritech,
"There are different associations selling flowers
under a common market, these include the Birju Phool
Mandi, the Delhi growers and cutters association and
the suppliers association and many more."
Be sure to hit the place soon, for the widest variety
of flowers at inexpensive prices, for great decorations
and bargains and also for a gift for someone you love.
- Jyoti Narang |
12:03:46 PM 
