Culture Clone
Delhi Newsline, India
It is hard to miss the mirror trinkets and the colourful, brocade lamps hanging by brick-coloured cottages just opposite the Pitampura Metro station. Just follow the bling and you will reach the new Dilli Haat. Although it is strikingly similar to the one near the INA Market, the ethnic shopping complex spread over 7 acres at Pitampura offers basement parking and walkways that lead to ticketing counters. But for now, you don’t have to shell out money; entry is free till the month-end.
On a sultry Friday evening, it took us about an hour to check out the entire venue, shop by shop. And around sundown, people came streaming in, most of them on their first visit and busy comparing the ambience with that of the Original. There are over 100 handicraft shops and 20 food stalls at Pitampura, plus facilities like a conference room and an open-air theatre. The handicraft stalls more or less offer stuff that you get at the south Delhi venue, but there is more variety in ethnic wear and prices are reasonable. You can pick a block-printed kurti for Rs 250 and an embroidered scarf for Rs 150. There are other interesting stalls. At Shree Rang Art Gallery, stall no. 55, you can pick up frames with intricate designs in chalk powder (a medium-size frame will cost you Rs 1,600). Walk into Rainbow a few stalls away and you can buy pin-up boards with fancy borders. If you need a decorative piece, stop at Art and Craft, shop no. 59, with its beautiful, poly-marble sculptures (a 2-ft-tall sculpture of a galloping horse costs Rs 12,000).
The food stalls from the Northeast are up and running, dishing out steaming momos and stir-fried noodles. “Currently, 13 food stalls have been allotted to various states,†informs an official. The remaining seven have been allotted to local caterers for now. We also spotted Navdanya selling organic samosas for Rs 15 a plate. Also, there is the Coffee Board’s showroom offering a variety of coffee beans and coffeemakers. When you have shopped till you have almost dropped, sit back with a filter coffee for Rs 15 and organic pakoras for Rs 20.
Open from 11 am to 10 pmEntry free till April 30