Sugar canes selling fast ahead of Ponggal in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: With Ponggal - the Tamil harvest festival - falling on Tuesday (Jan 14), K. Nandarajan's stall is stacked up with stalks of sugar canes.

The 41-year-old trader, who has been trading for over 10 years in Little India at the junction of Lebuh Pasar and Lebuh King, said business was good, thanks to a sufficient sugar cane supply.

"I've stocked up 3,000 stalks of sugar canes this year, provided from the same supplier I get from every year.

"Most my customers are regulars, and I am able to keep my price low by taking large quantities from the supplier," he said.

The sugar canes, which started selling on Sunday (Jan 12), are priced at RM8 per pair.

Decorated clay pots, flowers, milk, sugar and sugar cane are among the essential items for the festival, which are high in demand.

The sugarcane stalks are usually propped up outside the house and tied with turmeric roots.

Earthen pots are then placed underneath them to cook the milk until it overflows, signifying abundance before rice and other items are added in.