Stalls do roaring business at Khadi Gramodyog Mahotsav

PATNA: Almost 200 odd stalls from across India did an overwhelming business in month-long Rashtriya Khadi Gramodyog Mahotsav - 2012 held at the Patliputra Colony's main field in the city.
The national fare that offered motley of merchandize, including embroidered silk saris and dupattas, full sleeve and sleeveless jackets, woollen coats, cotton and silk kurtas for ladies and gents, leather belts, designer hide bags and trendy footwear produced by small scale industries, grossed over Rs1.5 crore till December 30, according to coordinator of the fare Rajeev Malhotra.
The maximum number of stalls were put up by Bihar sellers. "The mega fare that was organized for the first time in the state had evoked a lukewarm response initially but word of mouth publicity did the trick for us," said Malhotra. However the organizers fretted that a better site for the national event like Gandhi Maidan or any ground in central Patna would have recorded even more footfalls to the fare.
More than 200 delegates from the Song and Drama division of Government of India brought folk flavours of different corners of the country here as they entertained audiences with their traditional cultural performances. Working models demonstrating how fabrics are wove and oil is extracted from oilseeds also interested visitors.
A number of dignitaries, including ministers and judges, visited the month-long fare. Over 25,000 enthusiasts visited the fare on the New Year day alone, said Malhotra. Wooden goods from Assam and Kashmiri dry-fruits were the most sought after products at the fare, he added.
A number of competitions were also organized for children in which over 1,000 students of 30 schools of the state capital participated. The speech competition was won by Ankit Bhardwaj, Ayushi Jain and Vikas Ojha whereas the group dance contest was won by Pandit Shivaji Mishra group (Bhartiya Nritya Kala Madir), Akshita and group (Heritage School) and Sania Singh and group (Bhartiya Nritya Kala Madir) among 40 groups.
Almost 250 kids had auditioned for the solo dance contest which was won by Shrishti Anand in junior category. Somya Saloni and Tushar Rana stood second and third respectively.
Sneha Shree bagged the first prize followed by Amita Priyanshu and Manvi Kumari in the senior group. More than 450 students had participated in the drawing competition which was won by Abhuday Kashyap (St. Michael High School), Upasana (Heritage School) and Nikhil Kumar (Radient International School) in the junior group. Sonali Kumari (KV Kankarbagh), Deep Shiksha (DAV Public School, BSEB) and Akshat Anand (Don Bosco Academy) were adjudged as winners in the pre-senior group. Akshita (Heritage School), Sourav Kumar (DAV Public School, Khagaul) and Supriya Pandey (Baldwin Academy) were declared winners in the senior group.
The Mahotsav, organized by State Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), was scheduled to culminate on January 2 itself. However it was extended by a day giving shopaholics the last chance of splurging on Thursday. Prizes to the winners as well as awards for the best stalls in different categories would be given at the valedictory function to be held on Thursday.