A Bernama survey found that essential items needed during the Pongal celebration, such as sugarcane, milk, brown sugar, flowers, mango leaves, fruits and clay pots, were readily available and sold at reasonable prices.

Housewife K Rukmani spent the weekend buying necessities and making final preparations to celebrate Pongal, as her children would be busy with work commitments from today.

“This is the final weekend that I get to have my kids bring me out to shop before they all get busy with work on Monday, leaving me to panic for the prayer items on Tuesday,” Rukmani, speaking with Bernama yesterday, quipped.

“There are many shops here that sell the essentials, so I can compare prices and get things at affordable prices,” added the 55-year-old, who will be celebrating Pongal at home with her family.

A grocery trader, M Segar, said his sales had picked up on the weekend thanks to the large crowds. “Usually, items used for prayers sell well during the Pongal season,” he noted, adding that most of his customers buy goods in the evening, with business going on until late at night.

Another trader, M Valarselvam, said he and his son take the opportunity to increase their livelihood by manning stalls selling various types of leaves needed for the festival.

“We open this outlet for two days before the arrival of Pongal every year. Many customers come to buy these leaves to be used in prayer ceremonies and also to decorate their homes,” he said.

A trader who only wanted to be known as Saro said flower sales on the weekend were rather slow, but were expected to increase today in anticipation of Thai Pongal tomorrow.