The otherwise overcrowded markets in Chittoor ahead of Deepavali and Ayyappa deeksha season in Chitoor which is known for availability of the groundnut, dal varieties, fresh vegetables in November are seen dull with the customers weighing their options to choose staples in their budget, as red gram and black gram price hovering around Rs. 230 and Rs. 170 per kg.
The size of medhu vada (also known as uddi vada ) and quality of idli have come down at roadside eateries and hotels, as the black gram price has doubled in just three months. The usual breakfastsambhar-vada has become a difficult menu to afford for both the hotels and customers as red gram price has taken a quantum jump to Rs. 230 per kg from Rs. 100 in a few months.
Kitchens in households too are going to give the usual choicest cuisines a miss this Deeepavali as relatively less priced bengal gram has already replaced red gram in several houses. “We want to keep the festive delicacies as simple as possible this time as prices of staples have gone beyond reach,” says a housewife. “We used to go for pulse dishes, when vegetable are become pricey. But this time, both have become unaffordable,” says curry point owners.
Vegetables prices are also going through the roof. Free salads have gone off the tables in hotels with onion and tomato prices prevail at Rs. 45 per kg. “We have stopped giving salad as a complementary. If customers demand, we are charging extra for it,” says a hotel owner near Gandhi Bomma Centre said.
Deepavali pyasam will be an austere affair this time as prices of cashew, dried grapes are burning holes in pockets, says a housewife.
We used to go in for dishes made of pulses, when vegetables were pricey. But this time, both have become unaffordable
- Curry point owners

Source : The Hindu