It is that time of the year when Island Grounds is all set to see draw picnickers and revellers to the 39th India Tourism and Industrial Fair during the festive days of Pongal. The fair was inaugurated on January 2.
The early birds enjoyed free entry as sale of tickets began only on Friday – Rs 15 for adults, Rs 10 for children and Rs 5 for students. More stalls have now come up as this year’s edition has new attractions.
An official in the administrative office said that a delay in receiving the stability certificate for the bridges and the amusement rides from the Public Works Department had made them allow free entry till Thursday. He said tickets worth Rs 5 lakh would be sold through schools in a week’s time, making it easier for the students to actively visit the fair.
The 46 government pavilions, done aesthetically, exhibit working models to educate the public on the various welfare schemes they could benefit from. These are the main attractions at the exhibition, which has two new additions this year: One from the Chennai Metro Rail Project and the other for disabled people. The Fire Service showcased their spirit by winning the prize for ‘first completed pavilion’ for the third time in a row. The stalls would be vying in the coming days to grab the awards for best pavilion and best interactive pavilion.
Across the bridge over the Cooum, the atmosphere changes. Songs from Viswaroopam and those from the 1980’s set the mood for the visitors, as they make way through the sandy ground. There are 140 private stalls selling a wide range of products such as books, cotton clothes, handicrafts, bangles, pickles and utensils among others. There are stalls where the crowd can get instant photos.‘The Exorcist’, a scary house is the cynosure of many eyes, with children running out startled and screaming. Other scary houses like the King Kong, and the Dracula House would soon open to offer a thrilling experience to the visitors. Then there are the usual chat shops, ice cream stalls, masala pappads, soda hubs offering fresh soda and other eateries.
If anyone fears of blood sugar level shooting due to the intake of ice cream and sweets, there is help from the Lions Club, which has set up a facility, new to the fair, for diabetic detection, general health check-up, dental screening, blood donation and other things.
Another new attraction this year would be the Snow world and the 5D theatre put up by the Spellbound group. Redin, who heads the group, said that he was expecting a great family crowd this year with new stalls like Fish world, Bird shows nearing completion.
One could find out how much one weighs in different planets without actually boarding a spaceship to outer space at the stall set up by the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Center. Children could also pose along with a mannequin of Kalpana Chawla and take back home a picture that would show them in the space suit. The students can benefit from the mirror exhibits and the interactive models put up at the stall. “We have been coming here for the past 20 years and this time we have introduced a 3D theatre to interest the students and also have a presentation on the 50 years of space research, to educate the students,” said the deputy director from the Science and Technology Centre, Guindy.
Stall owners this year complained of a three-fold hike in rent and said they wanted to make a profit during the Pongal holidays. “I am coming here for the first time and have already paid a huge amount as rent. I want to make some profit, at least earn back the invested capital,” said S Vinod, who owns a stall selling personalized images, key chains, calendars etc. Sai Mallika, the coordinator of the Aachi Masala stall, said that around 60 girls in the age group of 20-22 years who were part of a self- help group, were employed in the stall where their products could be picked on a discount rates.
Apart from these, TTDC would be organizing various cultural programmes like classical dance, folk dance, dramas etc on a daily basis from 6 pm to 9 pm.