SHILLONG: The 8th International Shillong Shopping Carnival which is underway at the Fire Brigade ground is grabbing attention catering to crowds on a shopping spree in this festive season, with its array of international pavilions pooled for the event.
The International Shillong Shopping Carnival 2013 which is the flagship trade event of Meghalaya, is an initiative started by Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) with support of the National Jute Board and Meghalaya Government.
The organizers have made utmost preparations to make the carnival a perfect platform to usher in the festive season in the pine city with greater emphasis on Christmas paraphernalia at the stalls in view of the season spell.
Apart from pavilions put up by Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, South Africa is the newest participant of any fair in Meghalaya.
The brother-sister duo of Lyton Sicelo Moyo and Helen Dineo Supine who have come from Johannesburg, South Africa are spellbound with the beauty of Shillong.
“This is our first visit to Meghalaya,” said Helen.
Meanwhile, their stall “Lungisani Doingz Craft” has become the centre of attraction in the carnival with the exquisite display of traditional and artificial jewellery from South Africa.
The Thailand pavilion housing 20 most reputed companies from that country is another major pull at the fair. The National Jute Board pavilion with more than 15 entrepreneurs from across the country is another big draw in the fair.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal are displaying and selling exquisite products from their countries including jewellery, household goods, handicraft, onyx and many others.
The Thailand stall promoting gems and other semi-precious stones was seen as one of the most crammed pavilions along with its South African counterpart. The jewellery stalls enjoyed popular appeal notches higher than the others.
Meanwhile, to add on the wholesome shopping experience, the organizers have decided to gift two Bajaj Platinum two-wheelers as prizes on the lucky draw of entry tickets on December 7 (Saturday) and the last day of the fair.
Guaranteed of authentic goods at pocket-friendly prices, people were seen thronging various stalls to pick up home décor, Christmas decorations, food items and the like.