Before the lockdown, temples such as Shantadurga, Mangueshi, Mahalsa, Ramanthi, Mahalaxmi, Saibaba and Kamaxi were drawing huge crowds of tourists, both domestic and foreign, Herald has reported.

PONDA: Ponda, the temple town consists of around 300 temples in the taluka among which many temples are famous tourist destinations. 

Many flower vendors, who were earning their livelihood at these temples now starve for their daily income due to nation wide lockdown enforced in view of deadly COVID-19. As a consequence the business of the flower vendors has come to a standstill that resulted in loss of livelihood.

Before the lockdown, temples such as Shantadurga, Mangueshi, Mahalsa, Ramanthi, Mahalaxmi, Saibaba and Kamaxi were drawing huge crowds of tourists, both domestic and foreign. But currently, they all remain closed for visitors, though they are open for daily rituals performed by priests.

Being a huge market for flowers due to the presence of over 300 temples, Ponda Taluka was able to benefit the temple vendors as well as the flower shops with good business. Now with the lockdown, all the flower vendors are starving to earn their livelihood.

Consequently, some flower vendors have turned to vegetable sellers.

Social worker Sudesh Narvekar said that the government should provide financial relief to the flower and vegetable vendors in Ponda, as their business has come to a standstill due to the lockdown. 

He said that not just the vegetable and flower vendors, but all the small businessmen like bread-omelette outlets, fruit vendors, salesmen and rickshaw operators also are also suffering due to the lockdown. “The government should give financial help to such people,” he said.

Image source: Herald