As Akshaya Tritiya, falling on April 19, draws closer, mango prices in Pune have begun climbing due to a mix of delayed supply and rising festive demand. This festival holds special significance in the Hindu calendar and traditionally coincides with the arrival of Alphonso (Hapus) mangoes in Maharashtra, which further fuels consumer interest. However, this year the market is experiencing an unusual trend, with supply not matching expectations. The seasonal excitement around mango purchases, combined with limited availability, has created upward pressure on prices across the city’s markets, making the popular fruit noticeably more expensive than usual for buyers.
Traders have pointed out that the mango harvest has been pushed back by almost a month because of unexpected rainfall earlier in the season. This disruption has affected both the quantity and timing of arrivals. Consequently, prices have already surged by Rs 200 to Rs 300 per dozen compared to the same period last year, and further increases are anticipated soon. In major retail areas, the cost variation is evident, reflecting differences in quality and size. At Tulshibaug, Alphonso mangoes are currently priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,400 per dozen, while in Deccan Gymkhana, rates are significantly higher, ranging from Rs 1,400 to Rs 2,000 per dozen.
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Sellers across Pune report that while customer demand has steadily strengthened over the past week, the supply chain has not been able to keep up with the surge. This imbalance is creating sustained price pressure in key marketplaces. “This year, the supply is low. The crop arrived almost a month late, and there was heavy rain too. Usually, by this time, the market sees higher arrivals, but currently, the quantity coming in is still low,” said a vendor near Shivajinagar to the Indian Express. “Arrivals are still limited, and many sellers have increased prices over the last few days; some are selling fruit at Rs 2000 a dozen also. Prices are definitely higher than last year; there was bad rain this year. Rates are bound to increase more over the next day or two,” said Asha Wagh, a fruit seller near Deccan Gymkhana, to the Indian Express.
Vendors also emphasized that price increases during this festive period are a recurring pattern, though this year’s spike appears more pronounced due to supply constraints. “Every year prices increase during this period due to festival demand, you’ll see it go up by Rs 300-400 by the day after tomorrow,” said Sudhir Nathu, a vendor at Tulshibaug, to the Indian Express. Market experts believe prices will likely reach their highest point around Akshaya Tritiya. After the festival, as fresh stock begins to arrive in larger quantities, the situation is expected to ease, leading to gradual stabilization in mango prices across Pune.