The 13th edition of the annual Diwali Utsav organised by the Jharkhand IAS Officers Wives Association (JIASOWA) concluded on a high note on Monday. Held with much fanfare from October 17 to October 21 at Morabadi Ground, the fair was wrapped up with a promise to be bigger and better next year. Chief Secretary DK Tiwari and Development Commissioner Sukhdev Singh visited the fair on the last day.
With Diwali and Chhath just round the corner, the five- day fair was a huge hit among the city residents. The last day of the fair saw a spectacular musical programme by the Raga Musical and Culture Events Group while ‘Dasai’ a traditional dance form of Santhal Paragana also enthralled the audience. The Diwali Utsav had more than 300 stalls with entrepreneurs not just from Jharkhand but across the country like Jammu- Kashmir, Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala.
The stalls enticed the shoppers displaying an array of products including artifacts, kitchen ware, clothes, artificial jewellery, fancy footwear and other household items.Diwali coming up in a few days time, fancy diyas were also on display at the fair. With Chhath Puja less than two weeks away, products made from bamboo like soop, daura, tokris were in huge demand as visitors flocked stalls looking for home decorative items. Stalls with wood craft, bamboo craft, terracotta and handloom textiles were immensely popular this year. One of the major centres of attraction on all five days was the stall of the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC). Using the latest technology like Augumented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and MX Media, it gave the visitors an AR experience of the Hundru Falls and the Betla National Park (Tiger and Elephant).
With VR people got a chance to experience the various tourist places within the State like Deoghar, Baba Mandir, Sunrise at Netarhat, Patratu Valley and Ruka Dam. AR can also be experienced through the ‘JTDC AR’ mobile app available on playstore.
“This is a very good initiative of JTDC. Through this technique common people are getting interesting information about Jharkhand which will help in boosting the State as a great tourist destination,” said Tiwari.
JIASOWA Media In-charge, Richa Sanchita appreciated the efforts made by the Jharkhand Tourism. “The Jharkhand tourism stall is attractive and connects with the culture of Jharkhand. With the use of latest AR and VR technology, it was like having a real experience of the Betla National Park (Tiger and Elephant) as well as the Hundru Falls,” said Sanchita.
Various cultural programmes also enthralled the shopping enthusiasts. Tarapad Rajak from Purulia and his team of Chhau dancers captivated the audience on Sunday evening. Children from Nritya Taal Dance Academy mesmerised the audience with hip- hop, classical, modern and western dance styles. Santhal Pargana’s traditional dance form ‘Dong’ also fascinated the residents of Ranchi.
Apart from having a gala time shopping, visitors also got a chance to enjoy some mouth water delicacies espically the tribal food of Jharkhand. Tribal food like Dhuska, Bara, Daal Pitha and Chilka was served with chana for vegetarians and chicken for non- vegetarian foodies. For those with a sweet tooth, the local dessert gud pitha was also available. Poonam and her six- year old son were relishing a plate of pav bhaji and waiting for a plate of dhuska with chana. “These days the local food of Jharkhand is not so easily available. This is the second time I am visiting JIASOWA this year and today I am here not just for shopping but also some local food. During my last visit I had chilka and today I am going to gorge on some steaming hot dhuska. Even my son enjoys the tribal food of Jharkhand once in a while,” she said.
Kamini Sinha, a Madhubani painter and recipient of a State award by the Jharkhand government was very pleased with the public response. “I have been putting up a stall here for the last few years now. This year rolling blinds and vertical blinds with Madhubani painting are new additions. The other products include stoles, dupattas, clutches, coasters, saree border and jewellery. In spite of the showers on the weekend, the sale has been very food. Since these products are not available in malls and are handmade, I have received very positive response and people have also placed orders in their preferred choice of colours,” said the artist. Sanchita further added that household items and clothes attracted women shoppers. “A variety of designs and materials from vendors across the country were a major source of attraction, espically with the festive season. At JIASOWA there is something in store for everyone right from clothes, artifacts to savory items, pickles and dry fruits,” she said. A city based NGO called Team Green which had put a stall for the first time is also working towards making the city cleaner and greener. Armed with the support of the locals and the city’s youth, the NGO is on a mission to plant trees in secured vacant places in and around Ranchi.
In the past few months members of Team Green have planted around 5500 samplings around the city while at the fair they were distributing plants such as purple hedge and money plant to visitors.