Mysuru: Even if a Dasara visitor misses a couple of music concerts and cultural programmes, he or she will not risk missing the Aahara Mela and this year, it is being organised at two places — Scouts and Guides Grounds and at MUDA Ground near the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel.

For foodies, Aahara Mela is a great chance to get on a delectable journey, discovering and relishing an assortment of Indian and continental culinary. With chefs from across the State having put up on sale a variety of foods with rich aromas to elusive and simple flavours, the fair is a great place for all those who visit the venue, to stimulate their taste buds for a memorable experience.

From hot Mirchi Bajji and Mandakki, Jowar Roti and Yennegai from North Karnataka, Benne Dose from Davanagere, Pani Puri from Bangarpet, Kadumbutt Pandi Curry from Kodagu to Bamboo Biriyani and Crab Curry from the tribal hamlets — it is a lip-smacking journey. 

There is also Crab Curry and Ragi Balls (Ragi Mudde) for people who love to combine sea food with typical Mandya food. The rush to the food mela doubles or in fact triples on weekends as people love to have food that is served late in the night before heading back home after visiting various Dasara events.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Arun Kumar, a tourist from Kerala, said that he was confused what to eat as there were a variety of foods on offer. He said that though he was used to a different kind of food back home, it was nice to taste some of the best South Indian food and also get to know about new dishes.

Apart from food, the venues offer a wide range of beverages and fruit juices. And where there are youngsters, there must be Pizza. The Bangarpet Pani Puri outlets offer many flavours including lemon, pineapple mango and watermelon. People were also seen thronging the Holige stall, which offered hot Holige (Obbattu) with ghee.

“I like holige a lot which is normally prepared during Ugadi, while we celebrate the Hindu New Year. Since it is not a regularly prepared delicacy, I took the opportunity to eat as much as possible,” said Kavya, a resident of Kuvempunagar.

Meenakshi, a homemaker, who visited the fair and relished a few of her favourite foods said she loved most of the varieties but felt cleanliness should have been maintained equally well. “I have been visiting the food mela since a few years. Since this is still the beginning, the venue looks nice and clean. However, as days pass by, people tend to make the place dirty. I feel the organisers as well as the visitors should give equal importance to cleanliness,” she said.