After a crushing price slump during Dussehra, the city’s flower market witnessed a dramatic turnaround on Saturday, with wholesale rates for major varieties more than doubling. The sharp rebound has brought a ray of hope to regional farmers and traders ahead of Diwali on Sunday, a peak day for floral demand, though market dynamic remains locked in a tense tug-of-war between optimistic sellers and price-conscious consumers. On Saturday, Marigold (Zendu) surged to Rs 50–100 per kg, up from a sluggish Rs 25–30 per kg just a day earlier. Shewanti (Chrysanthemum) jumped to Rs 60–120 per kg compared to Rs 40–80 per kg on Friday, while premium Nishigandha climbed to Rs 200–250 per kg from its previous Rs 150–200 per kg mark. Roses maintained a strong price band, selling between Rs 150 and Rs 400 per kg. The sudden rally comes as a wellcome relief to farmers who suffered severe losses during Dussehra when an unexpected supply glut drove Marigold prices down to a dismal Rs 30 per kg. Encouraged by Saturday’s upward curve, growers preparing to bring fresh stock into Netaji Flower Market on Sunday are expecting prices to rise further, hoping to recover their heavy seasonal investments. Wholesale dealers share this bullish sentiment, anticipating robust festive demand to sustain high profit margins. However, buyers heading into Diwali day are harboring different expectations. Frustrated by Saturday’s steep jump, buyers are banking on heavy arrivals on Sunday morning to see a price drop so they can buy sufficient quantities for festive rituals without burning a hole in their pockets. Despite the prevailing optimism among sellers, market insiders caution that final rates remain entirely unpredictable. Because festive flower pricing hinges strictly on real-time arrival volumes against actual consumer demand on Diwali day, wholesale dealers acknowledge they are largely clueless about where the market will settle. Whether the day brings lucrative returns for struggling farmers or budget-friendly relief for festive shoppers will depend entirely on how early-morning supply aligns with buyer footfall on Sunday.