Bidhannagar Mela (Utsav) might not be happening this winter at the Central Park fairground but there is another fair happening next door where some of the items that the Salt Lake mela is known for are being sold. The India International Grand Trade Fair at City Square in New Town, being organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce and CC Marketing & Services, has 11 air-conditioned pavilions, labeled according to product categories, in which a wide array of consumer goods is being displayed and sold.
Other than local traders, there are sellers from 20 states and 10 countries — Bangladesh, which is this year’s partner country, Egypt, Dubai, Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Tunisia and Malaysia. There are over 400 stalls with over 1.5 lakh products.
The fair will be on till December 11. The fair is open from 12noon to 9pm. Tickets are priced Rs 20.
Here are some products and food items that caught the eye.
Sudeshna Banerjee
Decorative wrist watches and bracelets
The watches from Thailand are made of gold-plated radium and are embellished with coloured stones and American diamonds around the dial. The watches cost Rs 1500. There are also bracelets to match, at Rs 1200.
Where: Bangkok Collection, right in front on entering Hall 5, on International consumer lifestyle (second hall to the left)
Sudeshna Banerjee
Dubai stone chocolate
They look just like stone chips, except that they are colour-coated in thin blue, pink or white layer of caramel. The cost is Rs 800 a kilo.
At: Rupam Mouth Freshener, The first stall to the right in Hall 9, Processed Food
Sudeshna Banerjee
Coffee-scented pen
Order a cappuccino, latte, mocha or espresso at this stall and what you will be served is not a steaming cuppa but a pen to write with. And after writing a few lines. if you want to smell the coffee, go ahead and put nose to paper. It actually smells of coffee. The pens are being sold under the Submarine brand. Price: Rs 280-700, based on the model
Where: Sun Marketing. Hall 10, Cosmetics and Lifestyle Appliances
Sudeshna Banerjee
Iranian vases
These flower vases are a riot of colours with beautiful floral designs. These are meenakari work which originated in Safavid Iran and are handmade, the sellers say. The plates, in colourful designs, are microwavable, they say. They are priced Rs 1000 to Rs 2500, depending on the size. The vases are in the Rs 2500-5000 range.
Where: Hall 4, International and Lifestyle 2
Sudeshna Banerjee
Poncho
Actually these frilly slip-ons in net and beads are more like addon bling for women’s garments, especially of solid monochrome. The embellishments come mostly in black, golden, silver and gray and carry intricate designs around the neck and on the shoulders. The sellers have come from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
Where: Hall 4: International & Lifestyle 2
Sudeshna Banerjee
Diffuser
The ceramic objects act as night lamps when plugged in. And when a switch on it is turned on, there is heat generated which diffuses the aroma of the oil and/ or the camphor inside. Price: Rs 350.
Where: Ashtami. Hall 10, Cosmetics, corporate lifestyle & appliance
Sudeshna Banerjee
Sliding fibre glass mosquito net
In a township riddled with mosquitoes for several months in a year, this is an essential shield against not just stings but against vector-borne diseases too. These nets, made of fibre, come with aluminium frame and can be vertically or horizontally sliding. The vertically sliding ones are for small windows up to 3 feet in height, costing Rs 250 per square feet. The more popular ones are the horizontally sliding shutters, costing Rs 350 per square feet The bill for installation on a normal 7ft by 3ft door would come to about Rs 8,000.
Where: RRD System Hall 4, International and Lifestyle 2
Sudeshna Banerjee
Afghani Kabuli Pulao
You can pair it with Afghani Liver Gravy (Rs 300) or Arabic Chicken Alfham (Rs 400 for half plate). For those looking for snacks, there is Afghani Tikka Kebab (Rs 200 for half plate) and Kobeda Kebab (Rs 300 for half plate). There is also Turkish and Arabic Shawarma on offer.
Where: The Afghani Cuisine stall at the far end of the Food Pavillion hall, which is the last one to the right from the fair gate.
Sudeshna Banerjee
Note pads
Scribbling things can be a fun experience if there are such cute pads to scribble in. Sandwich, burger, chocolate, cream biscuit... they come in all shapes. The first two cost Rs 200 each while the latter two are priced Rs 150. Discounts are on offer on bulk purchases.
Where: Shivam Enterprse, Hall 10, Cosmetics, Corporate Lifestyle & Appliance