CHENNAI: Folk dances on the stage, and the streets behind buzzing with different kinds of stalls. From food to handmade jewellery and bags — all around the Kapaleeswar temple, the bustling energy of Mylapore Festival was indescribable.
The folk dances are a new addition to the festival, which has captivated the audience as they hum along and cheer for the performers on stage.
The stalls offer a variety of treats, including rava laddoos, ragi cakes, and hot chocolate, all served piping hot. From handcrafted key chains to tote bags and kurtis, the streets have been transformed into a mini bazaar, which has attracted crowds from all across the city and the world, too. Set up by people of all ages, each shop is crowded with curious onlookers.
“We stumbled upon Mylapore, and we’re loving our time here. Their pongal and poori are amazing,” say Astrid and Aviram from Denmark, who are on an India tour. Astrid enjoyed the block-print
mehendi, and adds: “It is lovely to see a community coming together and celebrating their culture."
“We keep coming to the Mylapore festival, and every year it’s new,” says Rithika, who shifted out of Mylapore to Royapuram. She believes the festival keeps her connected to her home.
The lanes are lined with tattoo and mehendi artists, as well as small-time jewellery makers. A mother-daughter duo have put up their bracelet stall for the first time at the festival.
“My daughter has been interested in making bracelets and other small jewellery, so I got her here just so she can show her art and probably earn from it too,” shares the mother proudly.
However, the crowd this year is less than in previous years, say people who have been selling products at the festival regularly. “This year is the least amount of sales compared to previous years, but I am hopeful that it picks up in the next two days,” says a jewellery seller from Besant Nagar.
The Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival will go on till January 11.