Slices of Kerala Life

Photo: Thara J.K; Collage: Rinoj Chandran

People of Kochi are busy shopping these days. In fact, they always are but when Vanitha Utsav – the biggest shopping festival in India is in full swing you can expect what the fervor will be like. Vanitha Utsav (earlier Vanitha Ice) is the shopping fest which is eagerly looked forward to by most Keralites in spite of the very many similar shopping fests organized in the city. Serious shoppers, window shoppers, onlookers and tourists drop by to witness this mega event which hits Kochi every year.

The fest is sponsored by “Vanitha”. And,Talking about Vanitha, it is not only the vanitha (women) of Kerala who are very familiar with this name. Old and Young, Rich and Poor, Men, Women and Kids – there would be hardly anyone in the state Kerala who hasn’t heard of India’s famous women magazine “Vanitha”. It is a part of their home and lives and there would be literally not a single house, clinic or beauty parlour in Kerala where you cannot find this magazine.

This year Vanitha Utsav is dated to run from January 22nd to February 9th. The inauguration was done by noted Malayalam film actor Dileep. The shopping carnival is held at an area of about one lakh square feet in the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor.

There are stalls including all range of products – home appliances, real estate, handicraft, handloom, health and beauty but what I like the most was the crystal and lanterns shops which was a real feast to the eyes, seeing it was definitely more rewarding than purchasing it (owing to their exorbitant cost) !. Then there were beautiful aquariums, they were so fine-looking that at one look I thought they are artificial, lots of North Indian handicrafts and dress materials and numerous stalls selling the cheap handbags and sandals. The crowd was however a bit off-putting (you don’t have to walk, cos people behind will push you through the entire length).