Magicians share trade secrets at magician's festival in Gujarat

Magic as an art is not highly appreciated in Gujarat as in other states like Karnataka and West Bengal, rued magicians who had gathered at ‘Sammohanam 2011’- the ongoing National Convention of Magicians.

Avinash Jadugar, a magician from Navi Mumbai said, “The market particularly in Gujarat cities is dull compared to other cities.”
He further said that magicians here don’t spend much on magic items though such items are produced on a wide scale in India.
J Mohanty, a Kolkata-based magician and a dealer and manufacturer of magical items said, “Ahmedabad is a welcoming city but people are least interested in magic shows; they are interested in films and concerts.”

At Sammohanam 2011, magicians across the country have come together to deliver lectures, train young and emerging local magicians about the trade’s latest tricks and tactics.

Magicians from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Surat, Vadodara, Bhuj, Valsad and Kolkata have descended upon the city. They have been allotted stalls where they are manufacturing and dealing in magical items. 

“A skillful professional wants to deceive the mind as well as the eye,” said Sameer Patel, a magician from Vadodara. Patel, who has come up with the concept of corporate magic, says that in Gujarat there are people who call magicians to birthday parties, only to keep their kids interested. He further said magicians are respected only in cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata, adding that despite being a mega city, Ahmedabad isn’t as welcoming as other cities.