Agartala Feb 07: Setting the stage for a 7- day celebration full of love, romance and companionship, Rose Day marks the commencement of Valentine’s Week.

Roses, with diverse colours and varying fragrances have long been revered as the symbol of love and romance. Red, Yellow, White or Pink, a single flower brings a priceless smile on the faces of our loved ones.

The city markets in Tripura were also seen celebrating the season of ‘Love Bloom’ on Wednesday as flower shops were decked up with Roses of various kinds, bouquets small and big that were being bought with heartfelt sentiments and romantic gestures.

However, as the high demand for this iconic flower surges during this ‘Valentine’s Week’, a significant spike in their prices is also a common occurrence.

On normal days, a single rose is sold for Rs 10 but the same rose is being sold for Rs 30- 40 and if the buyers demand something more attractive and fancier for their loved ones, the price of a simple bouquet comprising maximum 3 roses is sold for Rs 150.

Even the street corner shops that usually sell roses for Rs 10 act arbitrarily on Valentine’s week.

A shopkeeper in capital city’s Shakuntala market said, “The sales are good this year compared to the earlier years of Covid 19. But the consumers who are complaining of hiked prices are not aware that we too are paying almost double the earlier rate in transporting the flowers from outer states”.

One lady consumer who came to buy roses on this day said, “The roses have no smell, the quality is good otherwise. But the price is extremely high compared to normal days”.

She however added, “We can afford this much for our special person on such a special occasion that comes once in a year”.

So, despite high prices, Valentine's week began with a remarkable surge in rose sales on ‘ROSE DAY”.