Date: 19 – 21 May 2017
Venue: Dilli Haat I.N.A

Take you back a few decades – may be the 80s – and you would recall, as a kid, Rooh Afzah and orange squash was so cool. We would defend our personal favourites – Kissan or Druk till their supremacy was established. Summers meant either Rooh Afzah or orange squash. Period.

The humble orange squash has given way to a host of cool drinks that have to be seen to be believed. Packed mixes for thandai or butter scotch or bottles of our desi aam panna are now competing with fancy drinks boasting of exotic fruits such as kiwi or kafir lime. In fact, Sharbat Mela organised by the Delhi Tourism Department is a regular feature during summer months and we have loved the earlier editions of Sharbat Mela. In fact, it is being held this weekend – from 19th to 21st May, 2017 at Dilli Haat, INA. It was a stormy evening when we visited and everyone was running for cover. Sharbat was the coolest items to have. We saw aam panna and the humble but healthy sattu sharbat rubbing shoulders with fruit falvoured drinks and new flavoured Rooh Afza tetra packs. You can also find mixes for thandai or butterscotch or other flavoured milk shakes in this fair and can select after tasting the samplers. The fair is actually called Sharbat and Itra fair but we did not find any itra shop at the event.

But who cares? Sharbat Mela  is a nice event and given the promise of cooler weather this weekend, Sharbat and Itra Mela is a must do with the folks.

Cultural performance at Sharbat & Itra Mela 2017 at Delhi Haat INA