Rural extravaganza at IITF

NEW DELHI: If you''ve had enough ofurban stuff, then Saras is the place for you. Set up by the rural developmentministry at the trade fair in Pragati Maidan, this conglomeration of 500 stallsis showcasing India''s varied rural products.From woodcraft, jewellery,furniture, food products, garments and handicrafts to leather jackets, saris,suits, shawls, pashminas, lamps, rugs and carpets, rural products from almostevery state are on offer here.The Rajasthan stall is selling "magic"lamps, which have holes at the bottom for filling oil and yet don''t leak, justfor Rs 15. Include the clay bells, tulsi pots and a huge crocodile lamp for Rs3,000, and you have a whole range of products, from cheap decorative pieces tothe exotic."I particularly liked the corner and centre tables from Orissa.They cost between Rs 700 and Rs 1,000," said Anjana Diwan, a resident of ChiefCommissioner''s colony. The hot favourite at the Uttaranchal stall was,however, food. Bhadi-mangodi and bal mithai were in demand. Also popular weredecorative candles and pine cones.Zafar Iqbal from Jammu and Kashmirshowed how to make leather products cheap. A leather purse at his stall costsjust Rs 150. "They are made from cut pieces so they come cheap, yet look verygood," he said.And when it''s time to take a break from shopping, how abouta cultural feast? Artists from various states are here with their folkperformances like ghomri, bawai, dandiya and kutchi ghodi.Also, a theatregroup from Delhi, Iqra di Stage, is performing street plays. "The play is basedon the schemes devised by the rural development ministry," said directorMohammed Shafiq. "The play is staged twice a day," he said.