It has been raining in consecutive evenings in Puducherry. Though a quick shower comes as a respite from the awfully hot and humid spell, which residents say is having an extended season this year, in many minds it also raises anxieties of mosquito raids the day following the rain.
Puducherry is apparently home to a particularly resilient species of mosquito which thrives, rain or shine. Residents of several areas, including Kamaraj Nagar, complain that while there is hardly any abatement in the mosquito menace during a hot and humid spell, the day after it rains the mosquitoes are back with a vengeance.
In many neighbourhoods, people complain that they haven’t seen a municipal worker who sprays chemicals on mosquito breeding sites in a fortnight or so.
Those who don’t use mosquito nets have to shut doors and windows to escape the drone attacks.
A little more international, please!
Those hoping to be transported to the Mediterranean islands or the Far East on a culinary journey were a tad disappointed with the fare at the recently-concluded food festival. Many had arrived with wishes to get a share of ‘exotic’ food, away from the standard idli-sambar-vada. While visitors were happy with the arrangements and the food itself, their dreams of a truly international foodie experience was unmet.
However, one of the restaurants got a woman dressed in a kimono to greet visitors at its stall which was serving Japanese food. Visitors though were more interested to get their plate of food given the huge crowds that thronged the festival. Long-time patrons do agree that the festival has improved over the years and look forward to the next edition. The organisers, the people at the Tourism Department, have promised a bigger, better edition next time.
