This was a Summer Soiree for innovative ideas- a platform for small entrepreneurs, the youth and children of the neighbourhood (NFC, FC, MB, Kalindi and beyond) to exhibit their talent, creative ideas and also to pick up marketing skills.
The biggest draw was the games stalls-run by the kids, organised and planned by the kids and meant for the kids. Excited little ones shrieking and shouting ran from one game to another, as if on a very urgent mission. The decibel levels matched the level of the boundless energy in the enclosure.
A special feature of this fun-filled Soiree on a nice balmy Sunday at the Maharani Bagh Community Centre was that each stall was one of a kind. “Those who registered first, we stopped with them for that particular concept or product,” informed young and committed Jyoti Nanda, the organiser of the event.
She went on to add that this was the perfect time before the children were whisked away for their summer vacations. Mercifully, the Spring weather was still persisting with light showers.
Among the stalls was also an old lady displaying bed linen. “We just couldn’t refuse her, as she hadn’t stepped out of her home for two- years when she lost her husband during the Covid pandemic.”
Another interesting spin-off from the fete was to show the children that it wasn’t easy to make money. Many had invested their pocket money or savings in setting up the games or food stalls. So, it was a challenge for them to get their investments back and may be a bit of profit too.
There were truly very different stalls, such as Bavarian Tea Boutique, Jasjit and Neha Chug’s healing plants, Priyanka’s handcrafted picture albums for teenagers, tiny trinket cupboards and the all-time favourite – homemade masalas, snacks, sauces, pickles, spices and other savoury items.
The event did not end here, Jyoti’s zeal for service was evident the following day. The profits of the Soiree were spent on distributing bread pakoras and Roohafza sharbat to the poor workers at Mata ka Mandir and some material was also sent to an old age home too.
