K Srilatha is soaking in a view she has never ever seen before. Of rows of coconut trees on golden sands, the reflection of a glistening moon on the waters of Bay of Bengal and waves lapping the shore! That is because she is taking her maiden ride on a Giant Wheel at the ongoing Handloom and Handicraft Fun Fair at AU Grounds near Beach Road. “The view from the top in stunning! This part of the city looks like a painting,” she exclaims as she hops off to hop on the cup-and-saucer and merry-go-round this time.
- The exhibition is on till June 30
- It is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Entry fee is ₹50 for adults and free entry or children below 7 years of age
As dusk falls, the twinkling lights of the fair get brighter. But not as bright as the twinkling eyes and glee on the faces of children as they line up at the entrance impatiently waiting to get in. The rows of stalls selling toys and food don’t make it any easier for them.
Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh : 20/05/2019: Woman enjoying a ride on the slide at the Fun Fair Exhibition at AU grounds in Visakhapatnam on 20, May, 2019. Photo : K.R. Deepak /The Hindu
P Rutu who is selling home-made papads has come from Vijayawada . “We have a small set up at home where we make them with the help of a group of women,” she says as she tempts one with beetroot, tomato, sabudana, chilli and dry fruits-flavoured papads. Keeping up with the growing awareness about eco-friendly lifestyles, Amit Poddar from Kolkata has artefacts made of clay and jute. “Nowadays, the demand for clay and jute has picked up. More and more people are going back to their roots and replacing plastic bags with jute ones and using more clay and terracotta products,” he says. At his stall, one can pick up jute bags of varied sizes, clay decorative items and jute swings .
The fair has nearly 100 stalls of handicrafts, accessories, toys, food products and food stalls. There are about 36 rides, including many for the little ones to enjoy such as the trampolines and the bouncy castles. Whent he heat finally gets to you after all that walking, step into the Snow World and enjoy the sub zero temperatures. As you exit from another entrance don’t forget to say hello to the London Bridge!
Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh : 20/05/2019: Children enjoying boat ride at the Fun Fair Exhibition at AU grounds in Visakhapatnam on 20, May, 2019. Photo : K.R. Deepak /The Hindu
Oh yes, there is a 3D selfie booth with a backdrop of screaming animals and fluttering butterflies. Just perfect to record your fun filled evening.
