Vegetable and fruit prices have jumped sharply in Bengaluru ahead of the Sankranti festival. K.R. Market, one of the city’s main markets, saw a large crowd on Sunday as families shopped for the festival. Demand for sugarcane and ellu-bella, a mix of sesame, jaggery, dry coconut, and peanuts, has already increased. Ellu-bella costs ₹140 per kg now, up from ₹115 last year. Sugarcane is being sold at ₹200 for two pieces, compared to about ₹150 earlier. Santosh, a sugarcane vendor, said, "The competition is very high, and a balance is achieved through uniform rates among vendors. We decide on a common price before the festival rush peaks." Fruits have also become more expensive. Shahabuddin, a fruit seller, said, "Pomegranates are selling at ₹200 per kg, compared to the earlier ₹130 per kg. Similarly, even yelakki bananas are priced at ₹60, higher than their usual rate of ₹40." Vegetable sales get busy mostly in the evenings. Vendor Mohammad explained, "We adjust the prices in the evening as the market gets more crowded with the working population coming in to buy vegetables." Customers say this yearly trend is common during festival times. Prema Murthy said, "The prices here are higher than in supermarkets, but we still come to the market because everything is fresh." Vendors expect prices to climb even more as Sankranti approaches.