Stamps imprint good times

Thrissur: A unique attraction in this year's youth festival is the 'my stamp' introduced by the Postal Department which enables participants who have won to go back with 12 stamps depicting their face in the costumes.

The Postal Department charges Rs 300 for the entire set. Each of the stamps will be attached to an attractive motif like that of the Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal and Mysore Palace. "It could be kept as a souvenir by framing the entire set. Many winners have shown keen interest in it. The value of each stamp is Rs 5 but the real value of it is that of a curio. We take the photo and turn it into the stamp. We have come to the youth festival for the first time or for any event for that matter," said the Postal Department official.

Over 200 people have shown keenness so far to pursue this passion and the waning clout of the Postal Department over email and couriers could be attributed to this limited number and limited fancy among youngsters.  Farm Minister V S Sunil Kumar launched the initiative by printing his stamp and the Department gifted him by framing the entire set.

Over and above Taj Mahal and Mysore Palace what caught the fancy of most number of people was the old railway engine called Fairy Queen to attach to their stamp. But the biggest specialty is a stamp attachment having the Jasmine which also smells Jasmine. It goes for a premium of Rs 500 for a 12 set stamps. Those who wish to send letters by post can also use these stamps.

Anagha Sivadas, Class X student of SNGHSS Karamuck, Vadanappally, Thrissur who contested in the Kerala Nadanam competition and her labourer father Sivadas M V thought it fit to get in to this hall of stamp fames and after their participation in the event immediately reached the Postal Department kiosk for it without waiting for the results. Those who have come to witness the youth festival also show interest in getting stamps printed with their faces and the Postal Department officials do not discourage them.