Christmas tree with string lights, reindeer, stars and baubles, and a as many as 100 stuffed teddy bear
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Cynosure of all eyes
A decked-up Christmas tree with string lights, reindeer, stars and baubles, and a whopping 100 stuffed teddy bear seems to be the celebrity at the buzzing Prozone Mall in Saravanampatti. Visitors click selfies and enjoy their moments with the twinkling lights backdrop. “The tree’s height almost touches 50 feet if you also take into account the sturdy, layered platform that is used to erect the structure, and the shining star at top,” says Amrik Panesar, centre head about the larger-than-life Christmas tree, a star attraction at the mall as it gears up to host a festive carnival featuring stilt walkers, and a giant Santa walking about with his gunny bag entertaining children.
Christmas tree at the mall
| Photo Credit:
A H Sarfaraz
There is also a Santa kids balloon run competition for children. “Every year, there is excitement around Christmas, and this time we set up the tallest indoor Christmas tree at the main atrium to kickstart the festivities,” says Amrik adding that a lot of engineering (with 400 kilograms of ms steel used for the fabrication of the tree) and several hours of work by a dedicated team has gone into designing the tree.
“We wanted to use teddy bears to deck up the tree as these toys are a big hit with children,” explains Amrik. Christmas wreath decor on the walls also feature a tiny red teddy bear. “It’s a double-layered Christmas tree and so it’s not easy one,” says Smita Nair of Art Events who, along with her team, had a packed 15-day schedule to give shape to the giant tree. “The sturdy tree weighs 400 kilograms. We built a strong core before starting the layers of fabrication. A 14-feet structure was lifted as a single piece with decor and lights and was placed on the base. We have used as many as 100 soft teddy bears sourced from across the country on the tree along with bells and stars,” she explains.
The idea is to draw shoppers as the season is also the time when brands lay out their end of season annual sale. “The atmosphere is festive. People shop, click selfies and generally have a good time. We want to ring in a beary Christmas and kick-start the festivities.”
On till January 5. The carnival features entertainment events, carols, music shows, DJ nights, food festivals, and performances by artists, competitions for children. There is also a lucky draw for shoppers to win prizes worth 10 lakh.
All roads lead to plum cake
Rich plum cakes, almond icing cakes and as many as 50 decorative cakes will be on display at Kovai KRS Bakery in RS Puram for the festival season. KS Naresh, a fourth generation owner and grandson of Rangaswamy, founder of KRS Bakery that was started in 1960, says traditionally, customers buy plum cakes during Christmas. However, in the recent years, they buy fresh cream cakes too along with plum cakes and for New Year, there is a demand for customised cakes. While attractive floral decorations on cakes are the most popular choice, they also design and customise life-size cakes, for example a 12-foot high cake of the London bridge.
Rich plum cakes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
However, rich plum cakes continues to draw customers. Naresh says, “We add as many as 12 varieties of dry fruits including dates, figs, cherries, raisins, candied orange rind, ginger rind and soak them all up in home-made wine. Every cake comes with a miniature Santa that brings an instant smile on children’s faces.”
At KRS Bakery, Lokmanya Street ( East) R S Puram. Prices start from ₹600 onwards. For details, call 9159822022/ 9159833033
Flavour of the season
Plum cake made with dry fruits and fruit sauce, a specialty at Balaji &Co Bakes, one of the oldest bakeries in Coimbatore.
| Photo Credit:
Siva Saravanan S
The rich, dark, plum cake flush with raisins, nuts, candied fruits and spices, made without alcohol, a specialty at Shri Balaji and Co Bakers on Big Bazaar Street, draws a steady stream of customers on the festive weekend. “Our rich plum cakes with sugar gumpaste icing has a unique flavour and taste. We soak candied fruits and nuts in fruit sauce like it was traditionally done in bakeries in the region. Most of our customers are like family. People who visited us as children now bring their children to enjoy the same taste. So, we stick to the same recipe handed down by our founders,” says S Humesh, the owner, adding that they stopped selling plum cakes with marzipan fondant icing because of changing preferences among customers. He adds, “Our cakes taste the same since my grandfather’s time.”
Located at Town Hall, Puliakulam, and Karumbukadai, Podanur Road. Plum cake is priced at ₹800 for one kilogram. Call 8525919191
Published – December 24, 2024 08:35 pm IST
