Vishu platter in a new mould

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This Vishu has something new in the market - plastic flowers to replace the traditional 'kanikonna', the golden shower flowers.

Kanikonna is an essential item on the Vishu kani platter, the offering along with farm produces, fruits and vegetables to the Lord.

Shops in the city are dotted with the plastic kanikonna which has many takers. While the original bunch of flowers costs Rs 10 to Rs 20, the price of artificial kanikonna ranges from Rs 60 to Rs 80.

“The plastic kanikonna has many takers. People find it convenient to buy it as it can be reused,” says Siyad, a shop owner.

Konna trees weighed down by flowers are a common sight during the Vishu days. But, this year, most of the trees in city started to bloom from January resulting in a scarcity of the flower during Vishu. Its bloom is usually 40 to 45 days ahead of the monsoon.

“Times have changed. In olden days, we never could imagine a world in which even the ‘kanikonna’, the symbol of prosperity, is made of plastic. We are slowly losing our tradition and rituals. Festivals have become shopping events,” laments Krishnan Namboothiri, a priest.