Its a fair game

KOCHI: With Onam at our door-steps, Kochiites have started to turn out in full swing in preparation of the Harvest festival. Though the rains played spoil sport in the early hours last weekend, the skies cleared up fast enough to make way for some bright sunshine. Shoppers quickly decided to step out and indulge themselves.  As usual, the Ernakulathappan Ground and the surrounding areas have been most abuzz with shopping action. Clothes and furnishings at take-away prices, home accessories from flower vases to chappati makers, savouries from pav bhaji to palada payasams, the fairs have it all. Pickles are the pick of the lot though, with plenty to choose from. “Earlier we made pickles with mango or lemon. But these days, we experiement with almost anything, and come up with unique combinations,” says Seena Babu of Aikya Kudumbasree. One of the pickle producers has produced as many as 53 pickles so far. Incredibly, pickles made out of bamboo’ and ‘eerkili’ (mid-rib of a coconut leaf) have been brought out, and have found enough takers. Also a hit are pickles coming from across the country at the Onam fairs. A Rajasthani stall owner says that out of his 25 pickle flavours, two have already sold out. It’s not all tang and spice though. The traditional payasam served by the Brahmana Sabha and Ernakulam Karayogam have been a yearly treat for Kochiites. Again, the shopping attractions aren’t restricted to the Southern parts of the city alone. Surburban spots like Maradu see grand fairs like the Haritholsavam festival. That apart, the High Court Junction, the Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are hot spots for shoppers. Not to forget the hawkers with their colourful wares dotting the city. The make-shift stalls at Convent Junction and the boat jetty areas were expectedly chock-a-block this weekend, and the festive buzz is only going to grow.