The mela is right now going on at the Government College Ground, 18th cross, Malleswaram. This mela is primarily for all rural Indian products such as textiles, handicrafts, Zari work, terracotta, sarees, readymade outfits for men/women/children, bamboo items, pottery, Kolhapuri chappals, curios, food items etc. It is on till the 15th of March and is open from 10.30 am to 9.00 pm. It is a well-organised event and is free for all. There is also a small area for fun and play with a few carnival-like contraptions. There are cultural programmes too everyday from 6.30-9.00 pm.

What I found unique at this mela was there are lot of stalls selling authentic region-specific snacks (sandige/happala), pickles, dried yummy mango pulp, dates, spices, and ayurvedic syrups that you can mix with water and drink up as juices. You get Brahmi-lemon, Amla, Ginger, and a whole variety of such ayurvedic healthy ingredients. Seriously, I found the syrups the most wonderful find there. You even have a store selling excellent and mouth-watering gulkand. They also sell natural honey, butter etc. Some stalls are selling dry fruits too. A couple of pics of the food stalls.

Apart from these exotic items, you have many stalls selling the usual suspects – handicrafts and handmade items from Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra etc. Ladies, you have varieties of sarees and salwars from different states.

What is great is the mela stalls are free to rent. So, the sellers can easily sell the items to you at a reasonable price without having to add the overhead charges of the stall rent to the tag prices. And since the stalls are free to rent, you also find some of those sellers whom you don’t see in other exhibitions.

Here are a few pics: