[ad_1]
Currently, the price of coconuts is touching ₹75 per kg in Kerala
| Photo Credit:
VISHNU PRATHAP
It’s usual to see devotees break hundreds of coconuts in Kerala’s temples. At the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the coconut offerings run into thousands. But the age-old temple ritual is threatened as coconut prices soar in the State.
Currently, the price of coconuts is touching ₹75 per kg in the State. Last year, the prices were just ₹28 per kg. A trader near the Kottarakkara Maha Ganapathy Temple said that while devotees breaking just one coconut are still doing so, those who had planned to do special offerings of 51, 101, 1001 coconuts are postponing the ritual.
The Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram has reportedly seen a drop of around 30 per cent in the offering of coconuts. It’s not just the devotees who are economising, temple managements are facing a crunch too. A senior official at the Pazhavangadi temple told businessline that the temple administration normally uses coconut oil to light the lamps within the premises. But vendors are expressing their inability to supply the coconut oil at the contracted price of ₹340. The temple management has, therefore, decided to raise the rates to ₹400 on a temporary basis.
In many temples, the vendors supplying coconuts and coconut oil have reported their inability to continue the contracts as they find it economically unviable.
Eyes on Sabarimala
All eyes are now on the upcoming Sabarimala shrine opening for the 5-day Karkidaka Pooja beginning July 17. The demand for coconuts usually goes up during the Sabarimala pilgrimage when each devotee carries multiple coconuts, including those filled with ghee, for offering at the hill shrine. It remains to be seen how many coconuts the devotees will carry this time.
Coconut prices have been rising due to a variety of reasons. The World Bank report on Commodity Outlook says that there has been a 25 per cent drop in coconut production worldwide and 40 per cent in South India. Industry sources said the product diversification and export opportunities for value added products under FTAs especially with the EU have generated increased demand for coconuts. The supply shortage was felt globally with output falling across producing countries due to climate change.
Published on July 8, 2025
[ad_2]
Source link