Different hues of Bengaluru's Kadalekai parishe: The night and day of the fair

For 7 years now, Rekha from Tiruvannamalai of Tamil Nadu has been visiting Bengaluru every year to sell groundnuts at the Kadalekai parishe. "There is no other event like this one. The energy, people, city as well as business is great," Rekha says. At the famous Kadalekai Parishe or groundnut fair of Bengaluru, all you see is smiles- from vendors, stall owners, wholesalers, revelers, and devouts.

Bengaluru's Basavanagudi is hosting the famous Kadalekai parishe. The groundnut fair that has become the identity of this part of the town is only gaining popularity with passing years. "I have been visiting for 30 years now and the enthusiasm has not declined. I am happy to see more and more youngsters throng the parishe. For us seniors, it gives hope that the tradition will continue," said Madhusudhan, a senior citizen who was just buying his pick of groundnuts at the fair.

Throughout the day, hundreds of people throng Basavangudi, DVG Road, N R Colony, Gandhi Baazar and nearby localities. All streets leading to the Big Bull Temple are adorned with rows and rows of groundnuts of various varieties. The nuts come from all over Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc. In the night, streets are decorated with bright lights and every stall, brighter than the other, attracts customers.

Every year, the Kadalekai parishe converts the uber-urban part of Bengaluru into an old world whose charm never dies. Many are the hues of Bengaluru's Kadalekai Parishe but the spirit is one- keeping the centuries-old tradition alive.

OneIndia News