Matoli, the natural and perishable decoration used during Ganesh Chaturthi has been getting significantly more expensive every year. People who have recently visited markets may have noticed the sharp rise in prices of wild fruits, local vegetables and traditional herbs. Several seasonal and economic factors are behind the rise. Heavy or continuous late rains can damage seasonal forest produce and crops such as areca nuts, reducing supplies just before the festival. Matoli depends on a wide variety of wild, edible and medicinal forest produce. As foraging spaces shrink, collecting these items requires more time and effort. Gathering less common items from the Western Ghats and transporting them to coastal and urban markets also increases costs for vendors. Yet, while this divine tradition continues, an important question remains: what about its future? Goa’s hills and natural habitats are being destroyed day by day. If this continues, the rich biodiversity that sustains the Matoli tradition itself could eventually disappear.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Mapusa
