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Handmade products for ‘inhaling Puducherry’

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

EVINCING INTEREST: Tourists taking a look at the products at the Office of the Department of Tourism, on Goubert Salai in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: Tourism promotion in the Union Territory has moved onto a new plane with the Department of Tourism bringing out branded items to carry back home including ceramic ware, T-shirts, yoga tops, hammocks, pen-holders made from handmade paper, terracotta dolls and meditation kits with aromatherapy oils.

Called ‘INHALE Puducherry,’ the products invite visitors to inhale through their senses, the physical, the cultural and the spiritual essence of Puducherry as they go through the items that have been arranged on display.

The products are handmade and eco-friendly and are a potpourri of flavours, textures, aromas, designs and memories.

“All products will have printed logos on them.

“We are concentrating on tourists, who want to take back something from here.

“A few companies that meet here have chosen special packages of INHALE Puducherry to be given to their employees,” Mohammed Mansoor, Director, Department of Tourism told The Hindu.

These products have been sourced from local rural and urban artisans and producers.

Cartoonist Mangal Kothari’s famous off-beat T-shirts too find a space here at a subsidised rate.

The Department has chosen a total of 17 craft items of Pudhumai and they are stone carvings, stuffed dolls, dry flowers, perfumed candles and terracotta animals.

Pudhumai’s president V.K. Munusamy says this has provided an excellent opportunity for their products to be advertised and sold to customers from all over the country and the world.

“The director has said that stalls with these crafts would be set up at various tourist spots including Chunnambar, Ousteri and Karaikal,” he added.

Handmade paper products and meditation kits are supplied by Inner Reflection, which mainly exports items to European countries.

“Many companies are interested in gifting meditation kits that contain a music CD, diffuser, candle and aromatherapy oil since stress level especially in the IT industry is really high,” explained Riaz Khan.

The products are available at the office of the Department of Tourism on Goubert Salai, the newly renovated Le Café and at a coffee kiosk just in front of the Department.

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