Chalo Hyderabad Numaish ho aaye

There would hardly be any Hyderabadi who does not visit the Numaish. The crowds are slowly swelling up and heading to the Exhibition Grounds each day. With Tuesday being marked as 'Ladies Day', the turnout at Numaish was decent. Women went ahead for a dekko with their male counterparts politely denied entry by the security guards.

"Itni door aa gaye, aap theharo, main jaati, (We have come so far. Just wait. I’ll go inside)," said a lady to her husband. That is what Numaish is for Hyderabadis. Shopping malls may have come up in almost every corner of the city but the charm of Numaish is something that people can’t avoid. Preeti Gomes, a resident of Gunfoundry, says, "The brightly lit stalls, food, wide range of clothes and the atmosphere are simply irresistible."

She is one of those few Hyderabadis who visits the exhibition at least fifteen times each year, so much so that the organisers have started recognising her. P Narotham Reddy, honorary secretary of the society, says, "Preeti knows every nook and corner of the exhibition. It is this spirit that makes the Numaish special."

Not just customers, there are at least 20 stall owners in the industrial exhibition who have been regulars for more than 20 years. In fact Mohammed Maqbool Magrey from Srinagar has been setting up a stall for the last 36 years. He recalls, "I remember when the entry was just 50 paise. Hyderabad has changed a lot and so has the business. It is paisa wasool for us."

MS Pandit of Chinar enterprises who has been exhibiting bed covers, silk cushion covers, wall hangings, purses and other items is another loyal visitor to the Numaish. He says, "I am continuing the family tradition. Initially it was my father who used to set up a stall." “The reason why people keep coming back to the Numaish year-after-year is because we have our regular customers too,” avers Ahmed of Kumar Potteries. "There are so many people who trace us out. It is a bond that we have stitched over a period of time. It feels good when people meet us after a gap of a year," he added.

Daredevilry A trip to the Numaish is never complete without a peek into the daring acts of riders and drivers who indulge in death defying stunts in the well of death. Swirling around the well on bikes and cars and at times riding the bike without the hands on the handle bar and shaking each-others hands at high speed is a sight to relish.

Paid just around Rs 20,000- 25,000 per month, the riders put their life at risk. Wanted (Yes! It is a name of a rider), says, "It takes a lot of practice to master the well and we do not recommend people to ever try such things." The Telangana stall, the prison stall and the numerous food stalls too add to the razzmatazz of hamara Numaish.