Kundapur: Fruits So Beautiful, You Wouldn't Want to Eat Them!

Aishwarya Beejadi
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (VM)

Kundapur, Sep 29: The occasion was a wedding, but what dazzled the guests at the Saraswati Kalyan Mantap in Koteshwar was the amazing display of delicately and artistically carved fruits and vegetables.

The carving was done by brothers Vijay and Vidyadar from Vakwadi, who are into catering business as well as vegetable and ice carving under the banner of Sri Balaji Group in Bangalore.

The Vakwadi brothers learnt the art five years ago when they undertook training in catering. They are assisted by their other brothers Vinay and Rajashekar.

The art of carving fruits and vegetables has been their primary profession, saysVijay.

Speaking to Daijiworld, he said that the art of carving vegetables is not so famous in the coastal regions as it is in places like Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad and many others. He said that their orders are mainly from outstation.

They have been displaying their carving skills at various art festivals in and around the state. Their charges for any occasion range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, depending on the type of design.

They carve fruits and vegetables which are easily available in the market, like pumpkin, watermelon, brinjal, papaya, carrots, onions and others. They also carve designs resembling Tirupati, Ganesha and Lankadahana and so on.

Initially the art of carving originated in Thailand and later other cultures gradually started appreciating the beauty and culture associated with it.

The techniques of vegetable carving vary from person to person, and to one with an active imagination matched with skills, the sky is the limit.

The practice of carving fruits and vegetables is spread across the globe and is a popular attraction on occasions like weddings, birthdays, and private parties.