Jasmine flowers selling like hotcakes in Klang Little India

With the Deepavali celebration just around the corner, jasmine flowers are being sold like hotcakes at "Little India" at Jalan Tengku Kelana here. The unusual event is said to be causing several florists along the famous Jalan Tengku Kelana to run out of stock almost immediately after the flowers arrive. Florist G. Chellama, 58, said Indians of the Hindu faith are already buying Jasmine flowers a week before the Deepavali which falls on Nov 2 and this was something extraordinary. "I cannot complain that I am running out of stock as I am happy people are buying my flowers. "I am more than happy to see my stock run out almost immediately after they come as long they do not go to waste," she told Bernama when met at her stall here. Chellama said she placed orders with her supplier almost everyday due to this stupendous phenomenon. Shopper M. Sundari, who was spotted picking flowers at Chellama's stall said she wanted to buy the flowers now so that she would not have to rush to look for them days before the celebration. "Buying flowers a day or two before Deepavali is not really a good idea as most stalls may have run out of stock by then," she said. Meanwhile, M. Periambbal, 43, who sells Indian sweets along the Little India street, said business at his stall was still slow at the moment and expected to pick up a few days before Deepavali. Housewife, V.Lakshmi Bai, 62, who hails from Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya and an expert in making Indian traditional delicacies said the demand for 'kai muruku' (muruku made by hand) is high following the Deepavali celebration as not many people make them.