Goa, Aug. 28 -- The last-minute bustle at Panjim's market is a familiar symphony of tradition, but this year, a new note of concern rang through the festive air.

As families rushed to purchase fruits, vegetables, and wild forest produce for their matoli decorations, the weight of soaring prices was a topic of conversation on everyone's lips.

The market lanes were stacked with supari (arecanuts), bananas, jackfruit leaves, turmeric plants, sugarcane, and cucumbers, all used to decorate the matoli.

At one vendor stall, Shahbaz admitted that the prices of coconut, a vital element for the matoli and pooja, have shot up to Rs 100 per piece. He attributed the steep increase to a combination of Eid festivities and supply shortages caused by h...