By Beigh Irshad.Hyderabad | The All India Industrial Exhibition, that is held from 1st January to 15th February every year here in the city heart Nampally of Hyderabad.
As India is the country rich in diffrent cultures, religions, traditions and so on. Here inside the campus (Exhibition) everything looks one India a global concept. Diffrent stalls are setup with in the Exhibition ground from different states of the country including some nations, but the most important and more stalls were seen sign boards written Kashmir. At least 164 stalls were from kashmir a source told.
Diffrent stalls of artisans, carpets, jewellery and dry fruits etc were set up in the Exhibition.
Kashmiri artisans and traders happen to be participants travelling the longest distance to put up their stall at the Numaish. They go through at least three-day long train journey to come to the city every year for a 45-day stay.
“we are happy this year the board here has extended it one week more and people visit in a good number particularly they visit our stalls and we are happy to flourish our culture and natural gifts” a kashmiri stall owner told AM. He has spend the almost full winterer including the chilai kalan the 45 day long harsh winter in Hyderabad.
The Exhibition Society is a voluntary organization that was established in 1938 to conduct and manage every year the All India Industrial Exhibition, that is held from 1st January to 15th February.
The first exhibition was organized in 1938, by Osmania Graduates Association (OGA), Hyderabad. Soon after, the Economic Committee was formed and registered as a society with the purpose of focusing diffrent cultures and traditions of india.
This Journalist met with diffrent people and the stall owners to get their views and ideas.
A kashmiri stall in left side at the starting (entrance gate) hanged some clothes worked with kashmiri embroidery and a sign board as “kashmiri silk” with a smilling face was looking happy to see a good respond from the visitors. “mai che basan ais che shahre panes vanas peit beheit” it looks we are at our own shop in srinagar” he said.
Sakib Ali a youth from Delhi said “I have came here to buy kashmiri kurta pajama (Khan Dress) from delhi.
Another young local girl Qujista told “I am searching real Kashmir Jewellery from long ago and today my search ended here as I got what I need”.
A family headed with Grand parents from Agra said “my papa has no teeths but he wants still to eat wallnuts of kashmir” who were also searching kashmir wallnuts and Almond in the exhibition.
People were missing kashmiri fruits Apple etc.
The event, which completed its 75 years, was also the first event after formation of Telangana state.
P. Narotham Reddy, honorary secretary of the society, told that 2,400-2,500 stalls were set up during the 45-day exhibition.
Traders from various states and the departments of both the state and central governments will have their stalls.
The Entry Fee was Rs. 20 per head Free for Children’s below 5 years and Timings:- 3:00pm to 10:30pm.
Address : Exhibition Grounds, Mukarram Jahi Road, Nampally,
Hyderabad – 500001
The most and biggest problems faced by Kashmiries here was non issuance of Sim Cards which is the most important mean of communication to be in contact with the family and rest. A group of Kashmiries told “neither we are being provided sim cards nor any rule has been set up as like outsiders get sim cards in kashmir”. “this is also raising black marketing and forcing to get it illegaly” the added.
Beigh Irshad is a freelance Kashmir Based Journalist who is nowadays on a Trip to Hyderabad. He can be reached on Ishueye@gmail.com