Date:20/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/20/stories/2007122050870200.htm

Kerala

A show for nature lovers

For all those in love with Nature, the ongoing all-India Khadi and village industries exhibition provides an opportunity to have a look into a spectrum of natural products for a healthy and eco-friendly living.

About 200 stalls display a wide variety of items of everyday use as well as things of beauty that enchant all.

The exhibition welcomes the visitors with a live display of spinning on modern charkhas.

Tips for production of cocoons and raising of mulberry plants are available here. A variety of cane furniture and other handicrafts form an attractive section.

There are small-scale producers displaying paper bags of different sizes and texture.

The handicrafts section has a lot of tempting pieces. One can buy items like lamp shades or even go for the costlier ones like the beautiful calf elephant, carved out of wood, costing Rs.75,000.

A five-feet-tall candle weighing 35 kg and costing Rs.2,800 is among the novel collection of candles at one of the stores. There is even a bigger one costing Rs.5,200, weighing 65 kg.

The company has produced a still bigger one for a church in Irinjalakkuda and that has gone into the Lima book of records, says the stall owner.

The exhibition, at the Ernakulathappan grounds, will be on till January 6 next.

R. Ramabhadran Pillai