The Madras Market...

The Madras Market is finally here! After days, nay weeks of constant reminders, vendor verifications and just the eager anticipation of the event – it has finally materialised! Yes , yes… click and portal to brick and mortar and all that jargon… but come take a virtual tour on day 1 of the Madras Market (initiative of the Chennai Shopping group – a group that has helped narrow the gap between many a shopper and vendor along with some good relations to boot )

Ample car parking.. thank god!

Anyone who tries to venture into a mall or any other popular hangout over the weekend will shudder at the thought of parking. Definitely a point in favour of Madras Market.

Get your ticket and some gift vouchers at the counter too…

Safety and security what if your heart couldn’t take the variety of goodies on sale

I am entering the Market first paying obeisance to the remover of obstacles… help me find some good deals No obstacles there please!

The common theme at the Madras market was of course … errr… Madras / Chennai..duh! Chumbak, Chennai Gaga, and many more stalls which had souvenirs – read bags, stationery, T-shirts, magnets of ‘namma’ Chennai seemed to be popular with both the local crowd and the expats too!

You know you are Indian if…some witty stuff here

T Shirts with an element of the local flavour

Loved these quaint kettles…absolute old world charm

Moving to more functional items… these woven muli utility baskets were a big hit with many

Functional.. yea.. but what is that? Absolutely gorgeous jewellery up for grabs at many stalls.. and worth its price too I loved these jhumkas a lot!

Well if you got to look into your jewels in peace.. make sure junior is occupied! Board games and stalls for different hobbies galore…

Angry birds and Chota Bheem were the next theme in rage… bags, stationery and even a suitcase!

If just the souvenirs did not appeal to you – you could actually play the game live with the catapulting birds… no crazy sound effects though!

For the more adventurous at heart – venture into the world of Zorbing!

When it is glucose run down time – stick one of these kandy swirls to raise the energy levels

or if you’re looking to move away from the exotic and to something that has survived the test of time – fluorescent pink clouds of cotton candy… who could surpass that temptation!?

Kids and adults give in to them equally and wind up on a sweet note…

I have to mention the patient artists who were doing their own creative thing by way of caricatures and mehndi – putting a smile on the face of many. Plus the stage that was being set up for the evening’s concert. The food court had a variety of items that would satiate your sweet tooth as well as your continental and spicy one too… What was lacking was maybe a juice stall… With the sun beating down the way it did today – even the humble lime soda would have made top biz… people who were thirsty gave in to ice golas or regular mineral water…As a stall had mentioned on its merchandise – Chennai “land of four summers”

Hopefully same time next year too! See ya…

 

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