Anyone who is even part hyderabadi knows the numaish....it was just such an integral part of growing up in hyderabad.
An exhibition, at one time said to be the world's largest industrial exhibition, that comes to town every Jan, since the last eighty years.....thus dating back to the pre-independence era. Apparently this year they got the name 'Numaish' trademarked .
There was a time when we'd make multiple trips each year, one with parents, one with boy friend, one bunking college with friends. (must confess, we did some crazy naughty things, like even shoplifting trinkets from shops for the kicks.......omg, so difficult to even admit to it). And ofcourse the giant wheel, the motorbikes in a round globe.....the mirchibajjis et al.
And at one time we used to even shop there....bedsheets, clothes, keychains....and definitely the calendar.
After many many years we did a for-old-times-sake visit this year.
When mom later asked how it was, I found myself saying "it's exactly what it's always been ma.....just that we've changed, the world around has changed....and it's just so not relatable any more".
But in there, the atmosphere is still the same, the crazy crowds, the little toy train, the dust, the stalls, the mini amusement park .....even the old city folks bringing food and picnicing in there. Quite amazing....like time from back then standing still.
Yes, it was kind of like stepping back in time.
Rest in pictures:
Yes, that's how crowded it was :)
the little toy train that comes hooting along ....and it's fun to see how there's more adults than kids in it, and how it seems to bring out the child in everyone
a little cute girl who was evidently delighted by it all
a must have....the mirchi bhajjis
caught dhruva unawares with his kulfi
the queue at a marchi bhajji place....loved the curtain of mirchis
a quintessential part of the numaish, those little balls with a stretch rubberband.....used to be a must buy. Even today I couldn't resist that chat with shoiab akthar, and bought a bunch for the kids in the colony
the giant wheel, the merry go round, the columbus....all reminders of old time fun
this little boy was so cute, and this elderly gentleman was having such a sweet chat with him
this was like highlight....we parked here....dad's old old office, the Geological Survey of India, and as we walked by the entrance it was nice to tell Dhruva "thatha must have walked these very stairs so many times as a youngster, nice feel no"
Thanks ravi, for having gotten inspired enough to suggest we make an evening out of the numaish........was as quaint and interesting as nostalgia gets.
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