Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram: Monsoons mean good business in Kerala and with the rains coming almost 10 days ahead of the schedule, there is a rush among people to buy umbrellas.
Umbrella manufacturers are hoping to do brisk business this year unlike last time round when very less rains did them in.
Men and women at umbrella manufacturing units in Kochi are working against time.
With Southwest monsoon having set in early this year, the demand for umbrellas may hit an all-time high.
"Last year our business was really affected due to lack of rains. This time round we hope to do really brisk business," says Colombo Umbrella MD KN Marzook.
Kerala enjoys big rains during both the Southwest monsoon in June-July and the retreating monsoon in October-November.
About 1.5 crore umbrellas are sold every year and it is a Rs 150 crore market with about 10 brands competing.
"Last two years monsoon was very late. This year we didn't expect monsoon will came so soon. So we are actually rushing to shops to buy the umbrella because the schools are re-opening next week," says a customer Ambily Abraham.
And umbrellas are not just to protect from the rains. There are also tiny umbrellas and nano umbrellas and there are umbrellas for every child.
"Here we found really wonderful and colourful umbrellas with even cartoon characters printed on them. I have two kids for whom I have bought three varieties of umbrellas," says another customer Sheeba Varshese.
Over the next few days Chinese-made umbrellas, too, will hit the market but local brands will still be able to find a place in the rain.
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