Malls turn sweet

KOCHI: With Onam just round the corner, Kochi is gearing up for Kerala’s own festival. Onam special shops and exhibitions have sprung up across the city with organisations like  Ernakulam  Karayogam, Khadi Board and Kerala Brahmana Sabha offering an array of quality food items at affordable rates.The Onam mela organised by the Ernakulam Karayogam at TDM Hall is drawing crowds with its fresh-from-the-kitchen palada payasam, a variety of pickles, chips and kondattam (sun-dried foods). The Samooham is also offering an Onasadhya kit with 11 items (for five people) at Rs 500 on Thiruvonam day. The Brahmana Sabha’s Onam Trade Fair, which is being held on the Ernakulam Gramajana Samooham premises (near Ernakulathappan Temple), is offering Kochiites the chance to indulge in treats brought in from Palakkad, at subsidised rates. On Uthradam day (September 8), palada and pazhapayasam will be available at the fair for Rs 120 and Rs 130 a litre respectively. Only palada payasam will be available at the stall on Thiruvonam day. The proceedings from the fair will be used for charity.A number of other trade fairs are being conducted on the Ernakulathappan Ground, offering everything from Kolkata bangles to Thirupur cotton apparels. Decorative articles made out of real wood and leaves are also a popular attraction. Stalls selling bed-sheets, dresses and fashion accessories are attracting huge crowds. There are many eateries too, which provide Onam-special foods at subsidised rates. While palada payasam is available across these stalls for Rs 20 per cup, a pack banana chips costs anywhere from Rs170 (Kailasam Palada Stall) to Rs 200 at most of the outlets.