A VISIT TO THE PONGAL FAIR



AN ENJOYABLE OUTING

(Experience of Subbaram Danda)



In front of the pavilion of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

We -- grand-daughter Divyashree, daughter Aishwarya Devi, wife Sampuranam and myself -- were at the Pongal Tourist Trade Fair on the Island Grounds of Chennai on Saturday (February 1, 2014) afternoon. We missed it last year and so the urge to make up for it was strong this time. People thronged the shops selling sundry items like hair clips, kitchenmates and plasticware.

A noticeable fact was that the price of almost everything was exorbitantly high. Our favourite eatable, the large-sized 15-inch-diameter fried Delhi appalam, was priced at Rs.30 each. Yet there were many stretched-out hands to grab them! Use of the urinal had a charge of Rs. 5 per head. However, one redeeming feature was that the Kulfi ice cream at the state-owned Aavin milk stall was only Rs.16 a piece.

In front of the Police pavilion

                                                                                                            
There were the usual pavilions put up by the various government departments, showcasing their brighter side. The façade of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments edifice was impressive with life-like images of deities. Two mounted policemen greeted visitors to the Tamil Nadu Police outfit. The Reserve Bank of India stall saw long lines, as one of its counters exchanged old and soiled currency notes.

On the whole, it was a four-hour enjoyable outing, marked by shopping binges and carefree strolling.

February 3, 2014