Fun events, a whole lot of shopping and a bit of chaos sums up the spirit of the 'Sunday Soul Santhe' that was recently held at Sahakarnagar.
This was the first time that the event has been held away from the Palace Grounds and the organisers and stall owners were a bit skeptical about the crowd turnout.
But with over 10,000 people making their way into the festive area, all their fears were put to rest.
Yes, there were some angry residents and parking was a bit of an issue — but inside, the scene was completely different. People let their hair down and browsed through the various stalls.
One could see people walking their dogs around and children having a field day, running from one corner to the other. In fact, some of the adults got in touch with their inner child as well, digging into candy-fluff and carrying balloons.
Throughout the day, there were non-stop activities at the stalls and as the sun set, the energy levels only increased.
With over 150 stalls offering jewellery, clothes, accessories and even food, the santhe served as a good platform for many young budding artistes and entrepreneurs. Runa, who designs her own jacket line called 'MOJO', says, "I don't have a store of my own as Isell most of my designs online. But it's santhes like this that really encourages me to keep going and even get to know my clientele on a more personal level."
There were embroidered boots, 'Gangnam' bags, 'Angry Bird' fridge magnets, floating lanterns, beaded jewellery and even garden bonsai plants.
In fact, there was a party-planner stall that sold thematic costumes.
Mitali and Saakshi, two school children, picked up Hawaii-style costumes and put them on immediately. "It seemed like so much fun and I really liked the costume. I feel it fits perfectly in this atmosphere," adds Saakshi.
This was the first time that Rajesh, a professional, visited the 'Sunday Soul Santhe'. "Ihad heard about it and thought, why not take a look? Ireally liked the entire concept — it reminded me of Goa markets," he adds.
The night made way for entertainment like a music performance by 'Moonara' and a fashion show by Prasad Bidapa.
The food section was a big hit amongst crowd as well. From hot jalebis, Mangalore bajjis and momos to an array of desserts, it definitely satiated the customers.
In fact, many of the stalls were sold out. Rohan, from one of the food counters, says, "People always look forward to the santhe — but this time, it was taken to a whole new level. The new place and atmosphere just added to the spirit."