By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Malappuram: Mehndi competition attracted a record number of people yesterday to the Crafts Mela at Kottakunnu, Malappuram. The first-ever mehndi competition of the Mela saw 49 pairs of participants of all ages. The team of Parappurath Puthanveetil Muneer and Safeera of Manjeri bagged the first prize. PM Sareena and Sharbeena of Tirur got the second prize while Jubairiya and Shareefa of Karuvamkallu won the third place.
In the competition of children, the first prize was bagged by the team of Daveshruthi from Gujarat and Annapoorna from Kottayam in Kerala. Second prize was bagged by Chameli and K Smitha of Malappuram while EC Sana and Shikfa of Koottilangadi won the third. The participants drew Indian and Arabian designs in the one-hour competition held from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Arangu open-air auditorium. The competition was initially planned to be held on Saturday but was postponed to Sunday.
A large number of people thronged at the fair yesterday, the last Sunday before its closure on December 30. Craft works from different parts of the country and even abroad are put on exhibition and sale in the Mela. Besides exhibiting and selling, the craftsmen also demonstrate the way their craft works are made. And to add pleasure to everything, cultural programmes showcasing the folk tradition of Kerala are held every evening.
The fourth Crafts Mela being held at Kottakunnu was inaugurated by Minister of Industries Elamaram Kareem on December 16. Egypt is the official partner country of the Mela, and hence there are a lot of Egyptian craft works on exhibition and sale. Egyptian dance forms were performed on the inaugural day. Artisans from Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also attending the fest. The fair is organized by the Department of Industries and Commerce as part of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival in association with the Tourism Department and the Malappuram District Administration.