Swadeshi Festival drawing huge crowds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Swadeshi Festival being held under the auspices of Gandhi Centre for Rural Development and Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi is a gem unseen by many a people. The fest has completed six successful days at the Gandhi Bhavan, Thycaud, and will be on till May 8. All the products are special for the simple reason that they are 100 percent natural, home-made and chemical free, the major raw material used being the most commonplace items such as jackfruit, irumban puli, jathika, passion fruit, hibiscus (shoe flower), etc, Dr Jacob Pulickan, director, Gandhi Centre for Rural Development said. The organisers said that they do not compromise on quality and the prices are less when compared to the products available in the open market. Alongside the exhibition, training programmes are also in progress which include the making of jewellery, soap, jackfruit products, umbrella, paper bag and consumer products. While the former three programmes have been completed, the latter three will happen in the coming days. The highlights of the sale can be broadly classified into six - soap items, food products, herbal medicines, ayurvedic items, consumer products and above all various items made of jackfruit. Anyone who visits the fest will be amazed by the range of products made out of jackfruit, a fruit profusely available in Kerala but often neglected by Malayalis. Jackfruit jelly made from pectin is said to be four times tastier than the jams available in market. Even squashes and papads are made out of jackfruit.Jackfruit and Irumban puli products, ‘Premeha Roga Nivarini’ are hot favourites with customers. Squash and pickles are made from irumban puli and pudina leaves.Among the herbal medicines, Amukkuram, Naikurana and Brahmi needs special mention. The toilet soap is 100 percent natural, made out of pure coconut oil and retains glycerine which softens and moisturises the skin and doesn’t have any side-effects as it is free from chemicals. Out of the seven varieties of soaps on display, five are perfumed naturally while two contains synthetic perfumes. The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.