DIA Park Premier Autumn Mela attracts good number of Japanese visitors on Sunday  

NEW DELHI/GURUGRAM: A record number of Japanese expatriates including women and children converged at the Autumn Mela (Fair) organized at DIA Park Premier hotel in Gurugram on Sunday, October 10, and enjoyed authentic Japanese food and beverages while shopping for various products.

While Japanese men and women enjoyed shopping, the children took yoga sessions.

Organised at the lawns of the hotel in an open-to-air setting, the Autumn Mela offered authentic Japanese food, groceries, precious-stone ornaments, attires, fruits and vegetables, artifacts, and gifting solutions including handicraft items.

The participants included Prestige International India, VYOM Wellness Yoga, AOAC (Allahabad Organic Agriculture Cooperative), YAKITORA, Sammer Shop, Irodori,  Frangipani, Aromany, Tariq, Arisav, Hi to Mi, Yasu Craft, Main dish (Daily Need Exi), Indian Warp, Blue Tokai, Tomato Project, Mathew Sasa, Octavius, and Raifu & Honey.

The food tasting was offered by the Main Dish at its stall during the event where the visitors enjoyed Bluefin Tuna Otoro (Fatty) raw fish. It sells fish, pork, seasoning, and many other varieties of authentic Japanese meals.

Ms. Mika SASAKI of VYOM Wellness Yoga School – a Yoga Alliance member and Registered Yoga School (RYS) offered preliminary yoga sessions to Japanese children aged between 5 and 12 during the Autumn Mela.

Kenji Sugino, Secretary-General, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII) was one of the special guests and visitors at Autumn Mela on Sunday.

Ms. Kaori Sato, Chief of Operations, DIA Park Premier Hotel said that the turnout of the visitors at the Autumn Mela was more than the earlier events.

“The first Autumn Mela was organized in December 2000, and the second was in February 2021. However, the third Autumn Mela which was scheduled to be held in April this year, could not be organized because of the Covid-19 outbreak. To our surprise, we witnessed an excellent footfall of Japanese visitors during the Autumn Mela today, and it was more than the earlier events,” said Ms. Sato.

It was for the first time that Mathew Sasa from Manipur participated in the Autumn Mela, and it offered kitchen wares made of Serpentine Rock stone. The users can not only serve food in those utensils, but they can also cook meals as well.

Allahabad Organic Agriculture Cooperative put on display the organically produced Japanese rice, and other groceries, which are being produced in India. It is known for its non-GMO Vegan Tofu, which is 100% natural. Its stall put on display various handmade items including gathered skirts, quilt handbags, handicrafts with embroideries, cotton masks, round purses, etc. made by the members of Asha Vikas and Shakti (AVS) NGO.

According to Yoku Matsuda, the AVS an association of rural women in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, aims to achieve economic and social independence for rural women through the production of handicrafts such as sewing products.