The colourful and festive ‘matoli’ bazar of Banastari gets vibrant on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, offering seasonal business of around Rs 25 lakh to 400 plus vendors and is a much celebrated and enjoyed annual ritual in Ponda Mahal
The countdown for the oncoming Ganesh Chaturthi has begun and the markets are gearing up to lure the devotees with different kinds of vegetables and fruits that adorn the ‘matoli' to please the Lord Ganesha. Banastari bazar in Ponda is no exception. Having camped in the Banastari bazar the local vendors are expecting a good sale on the eve of the Ganesh Chaturthi.
It's an annual ritual followed by the vendors to start the ‘matoli' bajar two days prior to Ganesh Chaturthi when the locals crowd for purchases. According to a vendor, "The purchases in these two days are expected to cross Rs twenty five lakh this year." More than 400 vendors, including wholesalers and retailers, are engaged in this seasonal business.
These wildly grown fruits and flowers are used for making traditional ‘matoli', installed in front of the Ganesh Idol or hung in the air above the idol during the festival celebration. There are competitions wherein the ‘matoli' is decorated with maximum number of fruits and vegetables in the villages which has, indeed, increased the scope of sales in these items, many of which are found only in the wild.
These items are supplied by the villagers living in some of the remote areas in the State like Volvoi, Keri-Savoiverem, Mardol, Collem, Mollem, Kundai, Sattari and Usgao. The retailers in Margao who sell ‘matolli' items, also prefer Banastari market to pick up their goods in wholesale rate.
Mohini Gawade from Savoi-Verem does vending in this market for the past 15 years. He was vocal that this year as the Ganesh Chaturthi falls in August, the fruits and vegetables are abundant. "Yet, the prices have not gone down. Compared to last year, I paid more this year to the wholesaler," said Mohini.
Last year the Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on September 17 which was around fifteen days late and hence the flow of fruits and vegetables in the market was less. This had resulted in the increase in the rates. But these increased rates remained at the same level and did not decrease this year.
The wild flowers and fruits were costing between rupees 60 to 70 for a small bunch. A small size areca nut bunch is sold for Rs 500-600 while the bigger size is quoted as Rs 1000 or more. The other fruits are Karmala, Mavaling, Gaagre, Matta, Kaangala, Kundala, Toring and Tonnayo. The hog plums or aambade which are used for many dishes during Chaturthi are expensive this year. A bunch of coconuts is being sold for Rs 500-600 and a bunch of bananas for Rs 300.
Ulhas Naik, a wholesaler, buys from different places and then sells to the retailers. Ulhas, who has been coming to Banastari bazar for many years, admits that there were no buyers on the first day of the bazar but he is optimistic for a good sale on the eve of the festival.
Mohhamad Jafar Patregar and his brother Altaf Patregar from Panaji also come to this market to sell bunches of areca nuts. "We collect it from Siolim and other places and sell here for Rs 300-1000 a bunch. Savitri Gawade comes to this market from Mardol for the past 30 years. She admits that the prices are high.
Gangavati Kamat, a septuagenarian from Kumbharjuvem recalls that this bajar was quite popular and people used to come here specially to buy ‘matoli' items. "Now the Banastari bazar has lost some of its charm as today, at every nook and corner, vendors are seen selling these items."
