BENGALURU: ‘Averebele Mela’ or ‘Avere Mela’ started off on Thursday to a good response but farmers and sellers are still apprehensive about the effects of demonetisation on the food festival.
The 15-day Avere Mela on Food Street in V V Puram gives visitors a taste of dishes made from averekai (flat beans), including dosas, jamoon, jalebi, etc.
Geetha Shivakumar, who has been setting up a stall for the past 16 years during the mela, was initially apprehensive about the turnout due to demonetisation. She said, “We are happy that turnout is good. It did meet our expectations.” She agrees that the quantity of beans has come down. “Every year, we used to get it from Magadi taluk. This time, we bought it from Chikkamagaluru, Chintamani, Kolar and Tamil Nadu.”
Usually averekai comes from villages around Magadi taluk. However, this year production of averekai has gone down due to drought. The prices too have increased from `150/kg to `180/kg.
Venugopal has been in the business for the past 45 years. He says, “Our regular loads have come down. Many customers complain about price rise, but it is inevitable.” Farmers from Magadi are pleased with the response but not happy about the situation back home. With no rain and reservoirs running dry, farmers are worried about their crops. “This is the first time I have been affected so much,” says Vasudeva Murthy from Basavapura who is in city to sell his flat beans produce. Despite the price rise and low production, many people visited the mela for a taste of dishes on the first day.
Bhramaramba, who visits the mela every year, said, “We have witnessed fewer people compared to last year. But the number of dishes has not come down.” Manasa, who is visiting the mela for the fourth year, said, “This mela is special for those who want to get a taste of some of unique avere dishes.” For the first time, the Avere Mela will also be held in Malleswaram from January 18 to 22 and in Nagarabhavi from January 25 to 29.