Sharbat Mela: Care for a cool drink in the heat? Head to Dilli Haat, Janakpuri

At the upcoming Sharbat Mela (June 1-3), at Dilli Haat, Janakpuri, sip some flavoursome drinks and try the lip-smacking chuskis. For once, you might actually enjoy the scorching heat of the Delhi summer.

The sweet taste of a rose drink makes one forget the brunt of the Delhi summer heat; the tanginess of a kala-khatta chuski makes one smack their lips. Salivating already? Then head to the Sharbat Mela to try a variety of cool, flavoured drinks made from the essence of different fruits and flowers, herbal juices, milk shakes, and even ice-creams.

Sharbat Mela is an annual feature at Delhi’s Dilli Haat. (Photo: Saumya Khandelwal//HT)

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This annual festival aims to provide a respite to Delhiites from the summer heat, by offering sharbats, juices such as sugarcane, chuskis (round lollies made from crushed ice, dipped in a tasty liquid) and even kulfis and ice-creams. “During the lean summer months, which generally witness fewer outdoor events, we host these interesting festivals to offer new activities to people. The Sharbat Festival is also a refreshing change for Delhiites who look for unconventional experiences on the weekends. With the rising temperatures, it’s best to spend the day enjoying these herbal and traditional drinks,” says Sudhir Sobti, chief manager, PR & Events, Delhi Tourism.

One can try a variety of sharbats at this festival, being held at Dilli Haat, Janakpuri.

Catch It Live

What: Sharbat Mela

Where: Dilli Haat, Lal Sai Marg, Janakpuri

When: June 1 to 3

Timing: 11am to 9pm

Nearest Metro station: Janakpuri (East) on Blue Line

People from different age groups like to visit the festival, making the job of sharbat-makers challenging. “We will offer 15-20 types of sharbats. The kids love the strawberry flavour, so we have that; and since the adults prefer to try the mango flavour in summer, we have created two sharbats — one in the usual aam panna flavour and the other is in the ripe mango [flavour] that one often gets in tetra-pack juices. But one of our must-try items is the badam-brahmi sharbat that will keep you cool in summer,” says Bal Mukand Sharma, whose company has a stall at the venue.

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Once you are done trying all the summer drinks, don’t forget to indulge in some handicrafts and handlooms shopping at Dilli Haat, which is the mecca for Indian arts and crafts.

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