KATHMANDU: Tihar festival is just around the corner, so flower traders are planning to import 300,000 marigold garlands from India targeting the festival.

Flowers and lights hold special importance during the Tihar festival. Flowers, especially marigold, makhamali and chrysanthemum are used in the festival and marigold flower is imported from India to meet the demands of the local customers, said Bishwa Mani Pokharel, general secretary of Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN).

Domestic production of makhamali and chrysanthemum flowers meets the demand of customers. So, they are not imported for the festival, he said.

An estimated 2 million units of marigold garlands will be used in the upcoming Tihar. “Our local production meets the demand of 1.7 million units of marigold garlands. Of the total consumption, 300,000 garlands need to be imported from India to meet the domestic demand,” Pokharel said.

FAN has fixed Rs. 80 for a metre-long normal garland of marigold. The price of garland will be higher if other flowers and other things are added for decorative purpose, he said.

Kathmandu Valley, Dhading, Chitwan, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Makwanpur, Ramechhap, Jhapa, Ilam, Dhankuta, Kaski, Syangja, Banke, Palpa, Tanahun, Dang, Morang, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Saptari and Kailali are the main producers of marigold flower in the local market.