Sales and discounts in Chennai

The best time to shop in Chennai is during the Aadi season (August sometime). The traditional and conservative, of which there are many, do not shop during this period, and so, most of the shops and malls throw up sales during this period. It also helps clear stocks to make way for the new ones for Shravan, the ausipicious season that soon follows. You could also shop at regular places and demand discounts, the only time you are likely to be obliged in showrooms.

There are sales and exhibitions running through the year, and my favorite hotspots are Sankara Hall (Alwarpet) and Dass community hall (opposite Chola Sheraton, cathderal road.) The kind of sale differs according to season but handicrafts are pretty much the flavor.

The Chennai city center in Porur, and the Rani Meyammai hall are other places that gets freaky on exhibitions. Look up the papers for info on what’s happening at these places. Sankara hall, in December, hosts the audio-video sale, mostly of albums belonging to Indian classical music but if you are lucky, you could end up with some rare ghazal collections (like I did.).

If you are one for food festivals, look up the papers. The more expensive ones are hosted by the five-star hotels but if you are lucky, there are the Gujju, Sindhi, Marwari, and Marathi organizations setting up food stalls somewhere in the city. Keep looking up the papers.