Saras Mela extended till Jan 4; footfall of visitors exceeds 10 lakh

Patna: Following an overwhelming response from people, Saras Mela, scheduled to conclude on Sunday, has been extended till Jan 4.However, the fair will remain closed on New Year Day (Jan 1).Organised by Jeevika, under the rural development department, at the Gandhi Maidan, the total sale at the fair surpassed Rs22.75 crore within the first 17 days. While the daily sale is around Rs1.5 crore, the footfall of visitors has exceeded 10 lakh till now. Last Sunday, a record 1.25 lakh people visited the fair that is having 500 stalls and seeing participation from self-help groups hailing from 25 different states.Runa Devi, a Jeevika didi managing a pickle stall, shared her enthusiasm about the high demand for her home-made pickles, stating that she has already sold products worth over Rs1.5 lakh. “Organic pickles made of chilli and amla are selling like hot cakes,” she said. Other sellers from Bhagalpur and Gaya echoed similar sentiments.Visitors are equally happy about the fair and the variety of goods it is offering. “The food here reminds me of home; it’s rare to find such authentic and regional flavours in the heart of the city,” said Ananya from Boring Road.Families are spending hours at the fair and also enjoying it as a place for weekend outing. “We came to buy Madhubani paintings at the fair, but ended up staying here to listen to music and enjoy the atmosphere,” said Shikha.