The lights, colours and flavours of the India Tourism and Industrial Fair (Sutrula Porutkatchi) at Island Grounds in Chennai, are something that many 50-plus folks in the city remember with great happiness and warmth. A precursor to the malls, it used to be a place where families could spend time together, enjoying walking on the soft sand with the sea breeze from the nearby Bay of Bengal and munching on the big pappads and chilli bajjis.
The 70-day-long India Tourism and Industrial Fair that began with great fanfare at the Island Grounds in the city recently turned 50 this year. It was conceived and named by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
‘Appalam’ stall at the 34th India Tourism and Trade Fair on Island Grounds in Chennai on February 3, 2008
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu
K.C. Indhirani, a resident of Kotturpuram recalled the days when her family would go to buy kitchen appliances like gas lighters and vegetables cutters at the trade fair, as it is popularly called. “We would eagerly visit the exhibition to look at the new appliances launched that year. There used to be a toy train giving ticketed rides to children and adults. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments stall would serve yummy prasadam. The giant appalam stall from Delhi was a big attraction for children. When we used to buy unfried appalam for use at home, it would not come out as big or as tasty. It’s been a while since I went,” she said.
Mini train operation at the Tourist Trade Fair in Island Grounds, Madras on January 13 in 1978
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
This fair began in the city in 1974 as the ‘Pongal Tourist Trade Fair.’ That year, according to The Hindu, the fair had featured a typical rural scene with a temple, huts and a meandering canal; an amusement park, a mini zoo, a shopping arcade; stalls by Central and State government departments, Air India, Coffee Board, Cooptex and Housing Board. At the valedictory event held in February, Karunanidhi had suggested that permanent tourist fairs be held in the city and the districts.
Then President V.V. Giri with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi after inaugurating the ‘Pongal Tourist Festival and Trade Fair’ in Madras on January 7, 1974
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
In 1989, Karunanidhi gave the fair its present name. Speaking during the inauguration that year at Island Grounds, he said the fair has tourism and educational values and was a source of amusement for the poor. Tourism had a good potential for generating income to governments, and in other countries the income formed a large portion of the economy. That year, the theme of the fair was ‘350 years of Madras – its origin and growth’ and the Madras Corporation had put up a facade at the entrance to mark the occasion. Photographs depicting the growth of the city had been put up at the fair. There were 200 stalls including 23 government departments, five Central government organisations besides stalls representing Assam, Bihar, Kashmir, Gujarat, Orissa (now Odisha).
Former Tourism department official N. Ravi, recalled how late Minister R.M. Veerappan would visit the fair at 2 a.m. and ensure that the work was progressing well.
A view of the crowd at the trade fair at Island Grounds in Chennai on January 16, 2018
| Photo Credit:
L. Srinivasan
Island Grounds used to belong to the Ministry of Defence but it was later transferred to Tamil Nadu government in the 1980s. “It was a 6.5 acre piece of land at a prime location. The fair used to be a place for people to shop for clothes, kitchen appliances and toys at affordable prices. We used to have a permanent railway booking office. Events like horticulture shows, dog shows by Madras Kennel Club, book exhibition with 100 stalls, food fair in which star category hotels participated, and entertainment programmes with film stars used to be held. Prizes used to be given to best stalls and food entries. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation used to organise the entire show, but now it is being organised by a private contractor on a profit-sharing basis,” he explained.
Preparations in full swing for the 44th India Tourism and Industrial Trade Fair at the Island Grounds in Chennai on January 2, 2018
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
In 1982, during a food fair held as part of the trade fair, a Chettinad speciality, Kothamalli Kashayam got the prize for being the best nutritious food at low cost! In that period, no item, even the tandoori chicken cost more than ₹3. Local ladies clubs and the Institute of Catering and Applied Nutrition too took part that year and popular dishes from all over the country were made available at affordable prices.
A circus show in progress at the India Tourist and Industrial Fair at Island Grounds in Chennai on January 19, 2016
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu
The fair had its share of scares too. In the year 1982, a fire broke out and five pavilions of the railways, Civil Supplies Corporation, Cooptex, Central and State Warehousing corporations and a few stalls were gutted. It took about 100 firemen and 17 water lorries to put out the blaze that shook the owners of handloom stalls whose wares were burnt.
What remains of the handloom cloth stalls at the India Tourism and Industrial Fair at Island Grounds, after fire broke out on December 29, 1982
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
Former Commissioner and Managing Director of Tourism C.P. Singh recalls how the exhibition used to be theme-based instead of just having photos. It used to be very educative and entertaining at the same time. Back in those days, ‘Enchanting Tamil Nadu’ was our tagline and our unique selling point (USP) used to be temples and social harmony. Since Tamil Nadu used to be, and is still, far ahead in developmental goals, the stalls focussed on girls education, higher and technical education, health tourism, how railways have contributed and so on. People used to buy a lot of stuff from the Cooptex stall. We used to sell items like brass from Swamimalai and Arani sarees.”
In the present form, the fair has 43 stalls showcasing the projects and functioning of various State government departments and corporations, two Central government organisations and also has attractions like giant wheel and a 3D show for children. Special buses are also run to the fair.
The swirl of a giant wheel forms colourful patterns and reflections on Cooum river during the India Tourism and Trade Fair exhibition at Island Grounds in Chennai on January 28, 2019
| Photo Credit:
B. Velankanni Raj
Published – January 21, 2026 06:00 am IST
