Bhopal Van Mela: Bandhavgarh's Gondi cuisine, Alirajpur's Dalpaniya, and Chhindwara's forest food stallS draw crowds
Due to the popularity of the International Forest Fair, people are coming to see the fair not only from Bhopal but also from several surrounding districts. At the fair, held at the city's Lal Parade Ground, forest products and medicines made from herbal products worth more than Rs. 10 lakh had been sold by the afternoon of December 18th. A large number of visitors, approximately more than 100, received free medical consultations at the OPD set up at the fair. Free consultations at the OPD will continue until the last day of the fair by Ayurvedic doctors and experienced practitioners.
On Thursday, the Startup Conclave was inaugurated in the fair's conference hall by Dr. Samita Rajora, Managing Director of the MP State Minor Forest Produce Federation.
Products of the Vindhya Herbals brand from the Minor Forest Produce Processing and Research Center, such as honey, Chyawanprash, and other products like wellness kits, hair oil, mahua body butter, mahua lotion, hair shampoo, Vindhya body massage oil, etc., are being highly appreciated by visitors due to their effectiveness and quality. This year, the medicinal plants from the nursery were also a major attraction for visitors.
There was a great interest among people in all the products being made by the Van Dhan Kendras operating in Madhya Pradesh and other states under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana. The increasing popularity of mahua and indigenous coarse grains (millets) led to products like mahua ladoos, mahua pickle, mahua cookies, kodo-kutki cookies, flaxseed ladoos, sesame ladoos, indigenous maize cookies, forest honey, amla candy, and amla digestive attracting people's attention. Visitors bought these products with great enthusiasm.
Along with this, soaps, shampoos, hand washes, gels, amla pickle, shatavari pickle, wild honey, and other products made from aloe vera were also very popular among people. The products of the primary forest produce societies from various districts, wild herbs, and the products of the Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission are also drawing a lot of attention from the visitors.
In addition, the food stalls and food zone featured Gondi cuisine from Bandhavgarh by the Forest Department, Dal Paniya from Alirajpur, and the Van Bhoj (forest feast) cuisine from West Chhindwara, which were major attractions.
Colorful programs continued in the fairgrounds from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, including solo and group singing competitions by students, with cultural performances given by more than 50 students from approximately 10 schools.
In the afternoon, Yoga Guru Mahesh Agrawal taught yoga asanas in a yoga show, and the Biodiversity Board organized a Kathak dance and street play competition. From 7:00 PM onward, visitors enjoyed a vibrant performance by the Samrat Musical Group's orchestra.