The half-bloomed pink lotus in one of the many hands of Durga symbolises success. So it is for florists too.

Flower-sellers in Ranchi are doing brisk business with the rise in demand for the lotus, a must for Navratri and Durga Puja rituals.

As the mythological story goes, Lord Ram worshipped Durga with 108 lotuses to gain victory over demon king Ravan. Since then it has been a ritual to worship the goddess with the flower. The 108 lotuses are specially offered during Sandhi Puja, which is performed when Ashtami ends and Navami is about to begin.

In the state capital, lotuses, which are selling at a steep Rs 15 to Rs 20 a piece against Rs 5-Rs 10 on an average day, are already short in supply because of the surging demand.

Florists are now purchasing the flower from neighbouring Bengal.

A florist at Kutchery Chowk, Hari Malakar, said this was the peak season for sale of pink lotus. "We are bringing two trucks of lotuses every day from Bengal to meet the huge demand. Other flowers like marigold and hibiscus, however, are locally purchased," said Hari.

Ratan Malakar, who has a kiosk at Lalpur, said every day they were selling over 100 lotuses. "On the very first day of Navratri on October 1, I sold over 1,000 lotuses as the flower is considered to be an auspicious offering to Durga," he said.

Others said they had to mainly keep the stock ready for Sandhi Puja. "For the rituals, 108 lotuses are required. So we need to be well prepared," said Raju Malakar of Main Road.

Ratan had kept ready 10,000 lotuses to meet the requirements of Durga Puja organisers and devotees for Sandhi Puja.

Some Durga Puja committees, however, are preferring to bring the lotus directly from Bengal.

Kaushik Dutta, a member of the 69-year-old Ranchi Railway Station Durga Puja Committee, complained rates of lotus in Ranchi were quite high. "So for Sandhi Puja, we are bringing 200 lotuses from Calcutta for Rs 7 each as without the flower, the ritual is incomplete," he said.