Today morning, I have had frantic calls from vegetable wholesalers from the Kottayam main market that they can provide vegetables at half the price. I replied that I would be grateful if they can take my stock,' Mani said.

Kunjumon, a rubber tapper in Kottayam, said: 'It appears buying a kg of chicken is a better option than buying plantains.'

Several hotels in the state are offering the traditional 24-course Onam lunch served on plantain leaves ranging from Rs.90 to Rs.650.

The heavy rain has also affected the hawkers selling a range of things like textiles, traditional utensils and hand made items.

'The rains have really hit us bad. Not only have our sales dropped but the things get damaged. This is not an Onam we wished,' said Murugan, a hawker here.

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation, the sole wholesalers of liquor and beer in the state had record sales of Rs.34 crore Monday. The liquor shops were closed Tuesday -- it being the first of the month -- and re-opened Wednesday much to the delight of the tipplers.