Rs 35-lac Maha Vishnu Statue at Poompuhar Mela!

The Poompuhar mela is back with a bang, with its Crafts Mela, an exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts and textiles at Sri Srinivasa Sagar Kalyana Mahal, Jay ana gar, 2nd Block, near As hoka Pillar, Ja yana gar, from Jan 21-30, 2008

An excell ent range of ex quisite bronze icons, tradit ional brass lamps, Ta njore picture paintings, wood carvings, rosewood items, jewellery, incense, perfumery, leather articles, rudraksha and pooja items, apart from Madurai, Kancheepuram and Pochampalli Sarees, dress materials, bed sheets, Rajasthan textile items, etc are on display.

An added attraction is a 9-feet tall Maha Vishnu statue weighing 1,500 kg and priced at Rs 35 lac, an eight-feet brass lamp with 32 Ganesh motifs, produced in-house, at Nachiarokoli, apart from a Nataraja statue, Lord Siva in sitting posture, Goddess Lakshmi, Ranganathar, Venugopal, and a dancing Ganesha, all of them in bronze.

The organizers (Poompuhar Sales Showroom # Brigade Road; Ph 25580582) are offering 10% price off on all purchases. Timings: 10 am to 8 pm on all days.

The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, more popularly known as Poompuhar, is a State government owned organization. Poompuhar was a fabled Chola seaport from which the crafts and culture of Tamil Nadu were sent out to the world. The ancient commercial centre used to export requisite crafts items abroad. The Corporation helps the craftsmen by marketing their products through its exhibitions and melas.