BANGALORE: The lane leading up to the Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is abuzz with festive spirits on the occasion of the 43rd Hanuman Jayanti celebrations at the temple that started last week.The temple is famous in South Bangalore and what makes it even more well-known is the fair that is held every December on the occasion of Lord Hanuman’s birthday. The fair starts a week before the festival and stays on for weeks after it.Come December and the sight of boxes, blue tarpaulin and vendors putting up their make-shift stalls indicate that Hanuman’s birthday is around the corner. The huge crowd makes sure there is brisk business. The fair and the festival seem symbiotic. It is Jayanagar’s very own fair that residents for some reason take pride in.All items starting from ‘locally made’ china to trinkets, key chains with names carved on a rice grain to goods whose names are misspelt versions of famous brands are sold.Caught up in the carnival mood, people who come just to visit the temple and ‘window shop’, indulge in quite a bit of shopping. Glittering bangles, tinkling earrings call out to the ladies while wooden spoons and plastic kitchenware appeal to their inner domestic Goddess.The latest addition to the novelties are rudraksh beads and other stones that the seller claims are ‘semi-precious’ whose authenticity is questionable.For those who refuse to buy their goods off the streets are exhibition-cum-sales in the marriage hall-turned shop sright in front of the temple that sells handicrafts, traditional wear such as kurtis, sarees and bed linen.You will even find kitschy-folky knickknacks, shoes and even food items.Residents of Jayanagar, who have the geographical luxury, make more than one round of the fair before finally zeroing on the item that will adorn their home or self.All this shopping is sure to make one hungry and stall after stall of mouthwatering snacks beckon to the tired shopper waiting to be devoured.Especially for the poor husband who’s tagging along the wife, the sight of brown bajjis freshly scooped out of hot oil is a welcome relief.Food is a major selling point at these fairs.You have sweet potato chips for the on-the-go munchies, churmuri, a pit-stop for a light snack and to take home you have pickles of vegetables you didn’t know existed, puffed rice, packaged namkeens, jams and an assortment of other equally yummy eatables.However, the fair also comes with its disadvantages. Frustrated homeowners on an afternoon nap wake up to find vehicles parked right in front of their houses despite hanging up ‘no parking’ signs.They grit their teeth controlling their anger since it’s a festival and they can’t really blame the spacestrapped lanes or devotees who have probably come from far off places. The fair has a local feel to it that comes as a culture shock to some and a part of life for others. Some are here just because the fair reminds them of the ones back in their hometowns.The chaos is often sweet music to the heart that yearns for home.
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