There is a buzz on Avanashi Road near Nava India bus stop. No passerby could have missed it. The huge banner attracts people to the Cool Sunday Santhai held at Meenakshi Hall.
“The idea was to create a free market for people to sell their products,” says Meena Krishnakumar, the organiser of the two-day exhibition, featuring 85 colourful stalls. From home-made chocolates and Gujarathi designer saris to locals selling home-made products and international brands such as Weber and Tony and Guy, the Sandhai has everything that can tempt you to loosen the grip on your wallet.
SMS chocolates
Raji Rajesh from Palakkad has special chocolates stuffed with pan. Her SMS Chocolate boxes are popular. These small chocolate cubes, with short messages, make for thoughtful gifts.
“I started making chocolates at home out of interest. I had no intention to sell them until my children, especially Rithika, my 10-year-old daughter, motivated me to do so. The SMS boxes and wrapping techniques are all their ideas,” she says.
Raji Nandhakumar is passionate about terracotta jewellery. She sells it under the name of Shrishti Terracotta Jewellery. Five women assist her in the business. They make terracotta beads and get paid on a monthly basis. “I come back from work and make the pendants to complete the necklaces,” says Raji. The Sunday Sandhai that happens once in two months has helped turn her hobby into a business, says Raji, who also dabbles in the field of construction.
The red, blue, yellow, orange and green surukkupais at The Surukkupai Shop catches everyone’s eye. These multi-coloured pouches are made in Tatabad and come in quirky patterns. One bag resembles a skirt; another is double-sided.
Adding to the festivities, Maria Fulgen and Geetha George sell Christmas-themed sugar cookies, rum-soaked plum cake, spicy dates pickle, passion fruit syrup and more from their Suriyani Kitchen. They come wrapped in vibrant red and green.
Baking, a passion S. Jeswanthi, a final year commerce student in GRD Arts and Science College, wanted to pursue catering science. She could not, but ended up starting her own baking venture, Bake Spot. She sold desserts at the Santhai. She had a great time at the event, as her mother S. Jyothika was right with Jeswanthi, selling her jewel boxes.
Isha Arora specialises in laminating tissue designs on cell-phone covers, trays, jewel boxes, shoes, bags and wallets. She is a final year computer science student from PSG CAS, but decided to also learn something different.
She stocks tissues with more than two hundred designs. Do not miss her tissue boxes, jewel boxes, pen holders and mirrors featuring floral designs.
The Santhai has worked well for many women entrepreneurs. “That’s because the stall prices are reasonable,” says Meena. “You do not need a posh atmosphere to sell. Even a couple of tables will do. We have seen a good response from customers,” she adds.
Five-minute portraits
Koodal Kannan, a caricature specialist, impressed the Santhai crowd by drawing portraits of people in less than five minutes. He sings while he draws, and he can sketch with his hands and legs and write and draw with a pen in his mouth! “I love to do something new and I improved my talent with rigorous practice,” he says.
Swarga Foundations sold candles and paper jewellery made by children who suffer from multiple-sclerosis. At every edition of the Sandhai, a Non-Governmental Organisation is offered a free stall. “In every initiative, there must be place for charity,” says Meena.
