There’s an unusual buzz on the third floor of Vishal De Mal. Children and adults crane their necks and peep into the water trough kept in a corner of the corridor. “The fish look cute. I want to have fun. Mummy, please let me dip my feet,” screams a little boy. About five people let their feet in, pants rolled up, as the Garra Rufa fish gently nibble on their toes and ankles. “It’s ticklish,” children break into giggles while the elders relax and enjoy the fish pedicure. “It’s something on the go and convenient. After I finish shopping up and down the four floors of the mall, I come here and get myself pampered for 10 minutes,” says Janaki, a school teacher. After movies at Inox, families drop by the tiny kiosk for a brief self-indulgence. As old paatis get their feet cleaned, thathas click pictures on their mobiles. “The experience is new and exciting. The crowd and cheer around this incited my curiosity. I feel the 10-minute session has indeed made a difference to my tired feet,” says Vinod, who took the pedicure with his entire family.
Fish pedicure is a spa treatment popular in Thailand, where little bowls containing the Garra Rufa fish are used to clean the feet of customers. “The fish is also called ‘Doctor Fish’ or ‘nibble fish’. It feeds on the dead skin on the feet and eventually cleans all the dirt. Even ankle cracks can be cured,” says Srinivasan, a regular spa-goer, who after travelling to the South East Asian Countries has set up ‘It’s Fishy’, the fish pedicure kiosk at the mall. “I thought it would be a really new experience for the Madurai people and I was right. The response on weekends is overwhelming.”
He adds, “Older people are serious about getting their feet cleaned, while youngsters and children just do it for fun and the sheer experience of it.” Srinivasan suggests six regular sittings for visible results. “There are people who come regularly. It’s an easy way to get dirt and dead skin removed rather than scrubbing your feet with creams. Fish pedicure makes the feet soft and improves blood circulation in the area, relaxes muscles and activates acupuncture points.” At spas, fish pedicure is followed by a foot massage but at the kiosk here there’s so much rush and a tissue paper to wipe your feet off is all that can be expected.
“We clean the water thrice daily, so that both the fish and people can stay away from infections,” claims Srinivasan. “This past month has been extremely good as it fetched me business worth a lakh. I plan to open more outlets across the city.”
The pedicure costs Rs.150 per adult, Rs.200 for couples and Rs.100 for children.
