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 The chirping of birds transports you to a different world as you enter that particular street in Chennai's Broadway area. People young and old line both sides offering a wide varietey of birds for sale. This is Maskaan Chavadi, a bird fair, which some veterans place at being about 100 years old.
According to Ponnudurai, who has been selling birds here for the past 56 years, one can buy or sell almost any bird - barring those trade in which is banned by the government - at this fair, which assembles for just four hours from 6 am every Sunday. Most of the patrons are those who raise birds as a hobby and they include people coming from neighbouring areas like Chingleput and Kancheepuram also. If their birds multiply, they bring their surplus for sale and sometimes pick up some new varieties when they leave. Till some 15 years ago, the fair used to be held inside a building in the area. But that has since been demolished and it meets in the open.
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A great variety of birds, both Indian and from other countries, can be seen here, beautiful brush crest hens, guinea hens, dotted hens, turkeys.
 There are about 26 varieties of pigeons alone, though not all are always available, besides 13 varieties of lovebirds and a lot of African birds. One can place an order for a particular bird and be fairly sure of getting it in a couple of weeks. Fighter cocks, some still bearing the scars of past battles, are bought and sold here in large numbers, an indication that this cruel sport continues to be a popular, though unpublicised, pastime.
 Most of the birds are, sad to say, in cages. Those free have had their wings clipped. According to a regular, pigeons even with unclipped wings will return home if they fly away. Many members of Chennai's Pigeons Club and Racing Pigeons Club are regular visitors. Pigeons prices are said to range from Rs.30 to Rs.5000 and those of lovebirds from Rs.12 to Rs.200. Strangely, among the creatures on offer are rabbits and dogs.
R. Sundaramurthi
Translated by Sujatha Pradeep |
