Coimbatore Rains Wash Away Ayudha Pooja Hopes for Small Traders

Coimbatore: Even as the city's attention remained fixed on flooded roads, traffic snarls and potholes following the heavy rains that began on Saturday night, another distressing scene unfolded across Coimbatore — the festive hopes of small traders preparing for Ayudha Pooja slowly washed away with the rain.

Temporary stalls that had sprung up across the city, including Poo Market, Gandhipuram, Kavundampalayam and other busy commercial areas, wore a deserted look as traders struggled to protect their merchandise from the relentless downpour. Banana leaves, mango leaves, flowers, sugarcane, puffed rice, incense sticks and other pooja essentials stocked in anticipation of brisk festive sales were drenched, with several items rendered unusable.

At Poo Market, which usually witnesses a steady stream of shoppers during the festive season, the impact of the rain was evident. Goods lay soaked, stalls remained deserted and traders faced the prospect of disposing of perishable merchandise rather than earning an income from it.

Periyasamy, a trader from Kavundampalayam, said the continuous rain since Saturday had drenched almost all the goods they had stocked for the festival. "We will be able to take back only the sugarcane. The banana leaves, mango leaves, flowers and almost all the other puja items have been soaked and rendered unusable," he said.

Recalling that traders had recorded good sales last year, Periyasamy said this season had brought little hope of profit. While he welcomed the rain as a farmer, he said the downpour had dealt a severe blow to small vendors who had invested their money in festive merchandise. Several traders had suffered substantial losses, with much of their stock damaged before it could be sold.

At Poo Market, the city's major flower hub, another trader said flower sales had declined drastically this Ayudha Puja season. Flowers, an essential part of the festival's worship and rituals, had been stocked in large quantities, but much of the merchandise was drenched in the rain and had to be discarded.

The trader said flower sales had begun as early as Thursday, ahead of the festive holidays on Friday, when many establishments observed the puja holidays, giving employees a long weekend. This resulted in good sales before the rains set in. However, the subsequent downpour severely affected sales intended for residential customers, leaving vendors with damaged stock and fewer buyers.

Although some residents ventured out despite the downpour to purchase flowers, many stayed away from the market. Some shoppers instead bought flowers from nearby localities or through online platforms, further affecting vendors who depended on direct sales at the market. The sharp fall in footfall, coupled with the loss of rain-soaked stock, dealt a major blow to flower sellers who had counted on the festive season to improve their earnings.

For many small traders, the days leading up to Ayudha Pooja are an important opportunity to earn income through temporary stalls and seasonal sales. They invest in merchandise with the expectation that the festive rush will help them recover their costs and make a modest profit. This year, however, the rain has left several of them counting their losses.

While the downpour has brought relief to farmers and replenished water resources, it has also exposed the vulnerability of small traders who depend on favourable weather and a brief window of festive demand. Beyond the flooded roads, traffic congestion and waterlogging, the deserted stalls and discarded goods tell another story of the heavy rains — one of livelihoods disrupted and festive hopes washed away.