Markets and Transport Hubs Busy Ahead of Pongal Festival in Tamil Nadu

Ahead of the Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu, markets in Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchi, Erode, and Salem saw heavy crowds buying essential items like sugarcane, vegetables, flowers, turmeric, and fruits. Prices for some goods, such as jasmine flowers and sugarcane, rose marginally due to supply issues and weather conditions. Farmers reported mixed sugarcane yields, with sufficient rain benefiting Madurai but insufficient rain affecting Dindigul. Transport hubs experienced increased passenger movement as people traveled for celebrations.