TATHALI (BHAKTAPUR), Oct 12: Farmers of Banmala settlement in Tathali of Changu Narayan Municipality-9 are busy plucking Globe Amaranth flowers for the upcoming Tihar season. 

Globe Amaranth garland is a must for Bhai Tika - the final day of the five-day Tihar festival.
The farmers make first pluck the flower and prepare garland before sending them to the market.

“This is our family profession,” Laxmi Bhakta Banmala, 55, told Republica, “Not only ours. Flower farming is the family profession of all the Banmala community,” he added.

There are around 60 households in Banmala locality and all of them are involved in flower farming. Some are doing flower farming in their own land, while some are taking taking land on lease to grow flowers.

Indra Bahadur Banmala, a local, said they have been selling Globe Amaranth garland at Rs 20-25 per garland from the farm itself. “We sell the garlands at Rs 30 per unit in the market,” he added. 

According to Indra Bahadur, a ropani of land yields 3,000 to 3,500 garlands. These garlands fetch around Rs 90,000.

Locals started plucking flowers two months ago. They are now under pressure to pluck all flowers as Tihar is nearing. Globe Amaranth saplings are transplanted in May and flowers become ready for plucking in August, according to farmers.

Punya Ram Banmala, a local, said many households were leaving this age-old profession and turning attention to other businesses in recent years. “Despite this, we are still getting demand from traders from Kathmandu and other surrounding areas,” he added.

 
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