Spiritual fair sees good turnout

A view of the 'Giri spiritual fair' in Tiruchirapalli on Tuesday September 22. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

A 13-day ‘Spiritual Fair’, an exhibition-cum-sale of books on Hinduism, Indian art, culture and music, organised by the Giri Trading Agency, a book publishing house in Chennai at Indian Medical Association hall at Thillainagar here since last Thursday evoked good response in the town with a turn out of nearly 500 visitors every day.

The display of various types of books on Hinduism, art and culture, Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, philosophy, Carnatic music, puja rituals, devotional music, religious discourses and prayers in Tamil, English and Sanskrit languages at affordable cost attracted the visitors and buyers.

T.S.Srinivasan, Director (Marketing) of Giri Trading Agency of Chennai and Chief Organiser of the fair, told

The Hindu that the fair had been organised for the fifth consecutive year this time coinciding with the Navarthri festival. He said that any visitor to the fair had the satisfaction of browsing through the products and pick his or her favourite items like books, audio CDs and other articles that could be presented during the Navarathri ‘kolu’ function in the houses. Special discounts ranging from 10 to 25 per cent are offered on specific books and articles for the buyers in the fair, he said.

He pointed out that for the first time in the country `ADD Kiosk’, a digital downloading system had been set up in the fair for instant downloading of all classical, devotional songs and film music for the benefit of the people and nominal charges were collected for downloading of required music on CDs, pen-drives, ipods, etc. Nearly two and half lakh songs and rare collection of music programmes of eminent artistes from the archives have been stored in the kiosk.

Mr. Srinivasan said that a special competition would be conducted for the school students in essay and story writing (English and Tamil), drawing competition on railway station, market place, any one wonders of the world, our culture and nature and kolam. The students have been asked to submit their entries at the fair venue (Indian Medical Association) before September 27 and the winners in each category will be declared by the judges at 6 p.m. on September 28 and the first prize in each category will be given Rs.500, second prize Rs. 250 and third prize Rs.100 and the prizes will be in the form of books, CDs or gift items, he said.