The conventional palm leaf fans which have become a rarity seem to be making a comeback in the city with the rise in mercury levels. The trend is seen at shops that sell conventional palm and bamboo fans.
The increasing patronage can be directly attributed to power outages. These conventional fans are sold in market places and shops that sell puja items. Besant Road, Chuttugunta and Patamata are a few places where people find these time-tested tools to stay cool on hot summer days.
“There is a steady rise in the demand in the wake of power-cut,” says Venkatesh, a vendor at Besant Road.
“These small hand-woven things which were once part of our life are more relevant today than ever because of frequent and erratic power schedules,” says S.J. L. Narasimha Rao, a resident of Krishnalanka. Rao. In addition to the air-conditioner, most middle-class households have these fans as a stand-by option, he says.
Preferred itemCome summer, power-cut has become the order of the day. Besides inverters, these hand fans are the next reliable options. “Older people prefer a traditional hand fan to an AC or a ceiling fan to keep cool in this sweltering heat,” says Karthik, an Intermediate student.
The fans are sold at anywhere between Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 a piece.
