As the summer season fades away, the hinterland gears up for a variety of festivities. These bring with them a number of traditional fairs (melas) that villagers flock to in hordes.
Over the years it is these that have proven to be great opportunities for rural marketers. And though the current rural uptake is not anything to sing about, it is here that two-wheeler companies, the FMCG sector, food and beverage firms or the garment makers can find potential customers who are on an outing with family and friends and ready to listen.
As it is every year, this time too the coming months will be generously sprinkled with these events. Here are some that could be interesting options: The Sonepur mela in Bihar, the Narsinghji fair in Gomitpur, Gujarat, the Kapalmochan mela in Haryana and the Renuka fair in Himachal Pradesh.
South India too has its high points which include the Brahmotsavam in Tirupati, the Mahadeshwara mela in Kollegal, Karnataka, the Panimaya Matha Festival in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin and the Chirappu in Kerala’s Kottayam.