With focus now being on the organization of fairs and festivals in various parts of the Nilgiris it was the turn of Gudalur on Sunday.
Egged on by the success of the Spice Show cum Summer Festival organized during the Summer of 2010 and 2011,the district administration and the departments of Horticulture and Tourism joined hands again to put together the third edition.
The two day event which got underway at the Saint Thomas Higher Secondary School was inaugurated by the Nilgiris Collector Archana Patnaik. Among those present were the Revenue Divisional Officer, Adhimoolam, the Tourist Officer S. Dorairaj and the Deputy Director of Horticulture A.J. Jagadeesh Kumar.
A colourful rally from the Municipal Office to the venue marked the commencement of the event.
The show featured about 20 stalls including those of the departments of horticulture, tourism and forest.
Some tea factories and non-governmental organizations also participated.
Gudalur’s spice wealth was highlighted in the stall of the horticulture department.
The main attractions were a look alike of Fort St. George and a portrait of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made of ten kinds of spices including cardamom, pepper, maize, coriander, poppy, clove, cinnamon, fenugreek, cumin and fennel.
Mr. Kumar told The Hindu that such shows will enhance awareness among visitors about the role of spices in ensuring the economic well being of the farmers in Gudalur and its surroundings.
The Tourist Officer, S. Dorairaj said that over the past few years the tourism potential of the area was being systematically tapped.
An added advantage was the location of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve nearby.
