You pulled the chariot on Rath and then Ultarath. Now head to Central Park for the Rather-Mela. Organised by Bidhan Nagar Sri Chaitanya Bhagabat Samaj, the fair will be on from 4pm to 9 pm till today. Stalls are selling all kinds of things from Dhakai jamdani and junk jewellery to hair clips and utensils. There is a food court as well as a children’s play area. Here are a few items that you can check out-
Aladdin coffee mugs
Stall: A4
What: One of the most attractive motifs at the blue pottery stall near the entrance is Aladdin-inspired art. “These cups depict architecture that the artiste envisioned was the norm in the times of Aladdin from Arabian Nights,” says Arsalan Haider of Maya Industries. “We have come from the ceramic city of Khurja in Uttar Pradesh and these products are exported to Germany too.”
How much: Rs 250 a piece
Spring Potatoes
Stall: kiosk near gate 1
What: Sure, the fair sells the customary papad that is to be relished during Rathyatra but they also have some snacks with a twist. Try Spring Potatoes, where potato slices are coated in breadcrumbs and corn flour and deep fried. Multiple crisps are then pushed in skewers, making a rather tempting dish.
“We’ve kept some skewers on display and visitors are buying just looking at them. They only take a couple of minutes to make,” says vendor Santanu Mondal.
How much: Rs 50 and 80 for two sizes
Twisty straws
Stall: A kiosk near Gate 1
What: Does your little one fuss about drinking milk? She might find it fun to sip using a spiral purple straw that has a unicorn, a mermaid or a butterfly pinned on the top.
“While lots of kids are picking these up, these straws are also popular among adults, to serve cocktails with,” says stall-keeper Sk Naved.
How much: Rs 40 a piece
Magic tricks
Stall: E10
P.C. Sorcar’s famous Water of India? Check. The Indian rope trick? Check. Card tricks, vanishing tricks, ventriloquist dolls... A. Sarkar magic shop has it all. “We also have inch-long sticks that become long metallic sticks that women can use as weapons if need be,” says Shakya Singha Roy, adding that they also teach magic at Chingrihata. But the stall is as much about selling tricks as it is about creating awareness about the art.
“Many are under the impression that we do black magic. We get 10 calls daily from people asking us to trace lost children, for instance. While kids at this fair are running to us, some parents are forcefully pulling them away, fearing we may perform black magic on them. We want people to realise that magic is science.”
How much: Rs 60-700 for Water of India pots, Rs 120 for Indian rope trick,Rs 500 for magic stick
Fruit fan
Stall: Kiosk near play area
What: Since there’s no escaping the heat, you could keep a “fruit fan” in your pocket and fish it out for a breath of fresh air whenever you’re sweaty. The fans come in bright motifs like strawberry, orange and kiwi. They don’t need batteries to operate and their soft blades start spinning once you press a lever on the side. “These fans are selling like hot cakes,” says Ashok Bhagat.
“On a good day, I sell 30 pieces.”
How much: Rs 50
Re-useable ice cubes
Stall: D13
What: The problem with having iced drinks is that the ice melts and dilutes the drink. Well, Samridhi Enterprises brings “re-useable ice cubes” to the rescue. These are sealed silicone cubes, pre-filled with water.“Once frozen they can be poured into glasses the usual way but when they melt the water will not spill out and dissolve into the drink. Plus the cubes look cute and colourful in the glass,” smiles Mukesh Tripath from behind the counter.
How much: Rs 150 for 10 cubes
Wisecrack T-shirts
Stall: D12
What: You can’t cross this stall without smiling — or even laughing out loud — at the slogans on these Tshirts. They read “Taka poisha nei, Gyan deben na plz, Jiboney prochur chaap, Ja kamai shob EMI...”
“These unisex tees are available in sizes M to XXL,” says Mrinmoy Halder of Shatabdi store. “We usually sell online but here at this fair we are offering discounts.” They have a few T-shirts in English too but it’s the Bengali ones you can’t take your eyes off.
How much: Rs 299 to 499. Rs 50 discount if you buy two.
Jute bags
Stall: C4
What: A stall near the exit sells attractive cloth and jute bags. This one has the painting of woman’s face with shells glued on as her headgear. “And we have stitched ghungroo bells at the bottom as her necklace,” says Indrani Chakraborty, who makes them.“The paint is acrylic and the bag washable.”
How much: Rs 650
Clay jewellery
Where: A13
Stall: What can be more topical this week than Jagannath brooches? Sree Guru Collection has brought some cute ones that can be pinned onto your dress. “We also have fish-shaped ear cuffs that can be fixed on the ear from the top. Even those without pierced ears can sport them,” says Chaitali Palit. Don’t miss their clay chains with pendants shaped like the yellow Calcutta cab, autorickshaw and the turbanned and mustached Rajasthani man folding his hands into a namaste.
How much: Rs 150 for Jagannath brooch, Rs 120 ear cuff, Rs 200 for the chains
Indoor fountains
Stall: A45
What: This stall sells mini-decorative fountains that can be used as showpieces indoors or even in gardens. They run on electricity and have lights as well as water flowing. The artwork is made of marble dust.“The only maintenance is that the water has to be changed every fortnight and only drinking water is to be used,” says Subhash Shah.
How much: Rs 15,000 for a 3ft Buddha fountain (after 50 per cent discount)
