VIJAYAWADA: Poor publicity has turned the DWCRA Bazaar organised as part of the Krishna Pushkarams into a damp squib. Despite some several good attractions, including regional foods and rare products, the DWCRA Bazaar at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) stadium, has failed to catch attention of pilgrims and also the locals.
With no major business for the last three days, the stall owners are unhappy. The food stalls have dished out Telugu foods like Bandaru Laddu, Kakinada Kaja, Madugula Halwa, Rayalaseema Raagi Sankati and Perumallapuram Gaarelu. Handicrafts like Bobbili Veena, Yetikoppaka and Kondapalle toys are on offer. But the stall owners are complaining of too few visitors and far too less buyers.
‘Bandaru Laddu’ stall representative Joseph Durga Pawan of Mallaiah Sweets said: “The administration has totally failed in giving adequate publicity. We have brought products worth Rs 1 lakh, but the business is dull.”
Prabhakar of Gollapalli in Vizianagaram district, who came to sell Bobbili Veena says his business during the first three days was a mere `2,000. “During the Godavari Pushkarams, the publicity was better. Our `1.7 lakh worth products were sold out two days. But the situation is different here,” said Prabhakar.
The condition of other product representatives is even worse. While a couple from Atreyapuram, who have come with over `1 lakh worth of ‘Atreyapuram Putharekulu’, are sending back part of their consignment. The representatives from renowned Yetikoppaka toys stall also said that since the last three days, their income was just around `1,500. The stall owners feel the publicity during the Godavari Pukharams was far better compared to the Krishna Pushkarams.
Further, the stall owners also blame the frequency of buses from Pushkar Ghats, Pushkar Nagars and other places to the venue. “Pilgrims are unaware of the the bazaar and the products available here. If people come to know about the products on offer here, they would definitely come to buy”, said SHG woman from East Godavari district.
However people coming to the bazaar are impressed with the delicious foods and other products. The stall owners feel better publicity would boost their sales. They are hoping that the authorities would get their act together and give adequate publicity.