JOIN USThe day was just the right sort of sunny for a Christmas bazaar. People strolled in leisurely to the Corporation Play Grounds in Lingarajapuram, chatting and laughing, eager to finish some of the festive shopping.
As they browsed through the numerous stalls and filled their hands with goodies, the annual ‘United Charities Bazaar’ turned into a success.
What started as a conversation over a cup of coffee, over 40 years ago, has turned into one of Bengaluru’s most loved and popular bazaars. With people pouring in from all directions of the City, the ‘Charity Bazaar’, as it is popularly called, has become a hub for shoppers who are on the look out for something unique.
Various NGOs, churches and charities put up stalls in order to raise money for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The colourful bazaar had everything to offer, from food items like momos, homemade jams, jellies, wines, pickles, pies, cakes, cookies and more, to Christmas decorations, table linen, footware, handicrafts, clothes and plants.
The jams were one of the favourites with the people. Joceline tried the pumpkin and guava jam, before buying both. She said, “I have been coming here for years. The things you get here are cheaper than what you would get at any other bazaar and the money is going for a cause so you don’t mind paying.”
For some like Olive, a software engineer, this is the perfect place to finish the Christmas shopping. “I have been coming here for the past five years. You get really good stuff and it’s for a good cause. I generally do my Secret Santa shopping here, along with get a few things for the house.” She added that she was looking forward to the biryani.
Stephen Paul, who had a stall of Christmas decorations, said, “This bazaar is different from the others because the people who come here aren’t just coming to window shop and hangout. There is value for money and the specialised items can be found here. This is where the old Bengaluru crowd can be found.”
However, some like Celia, who was visiting for the first time, was disappointed with the bazaar. “I came here on the recommendation of my friends but I should have come earlier. All the stalls I went to said that they don’t have stock of their best products. Guess I’ll have to come earlier next year.”
From pickled tuna to paper mache bowls, headbands, squashes and Christmas bobbles, the ‘United Charities Bazaar’ was a potpourri of happy stall members and shoppers.