Growing young & trendy at 50!

At 50, becoming colourful, trendy and hi-tech! No it’s not any Bollywood diva or my neighbourhood lass; they are the weekly bazars of the state capital.

First started during medieval times (Nawab’s era) as low price market for the commoners at Nakkhaas, today there are around five of them coming up at different places on different days. These bazars are not just selling the latest commodities but are also using the modern technology for business.

While going to your workplace you might have come across a chick and wondered from where she got such lovely wrap- around dress and ethnic accessories or that lady stepping out of her high-end vehicle got her trendy purse from- it is the weekly bazar.

weekly6There is your cotton to denim couture, latest shrugs and jumpsuits, the extra swishy skirts, cheeky combination of bedsheets, pillow covers, school bags, footwears, western to Indian wear for all and sundry, vessels, designer flower pots, cosmetics, latest plastic wares. All the commodities are available at unbelievable reasonable prices.

The USP of these markets is its multiple varieties of commodities and low price amidst the old Mela Culture. Wednesday Market location is Mahanagar and is the most famous of all as Buddh Bazar.
Sunday-Nakkhas, Tuesday-Alambagh, Thursday-Aminabad and Saturday is allotted to Sadar market. In between, Monday and Friday are off days. However, on Mondays a few of them could be spotted at Barabanki Ghanta Ghar’s ‘Sasti Bazaar’.

The entrepreneurship, buyers’ crowd and the uniqueness of these weekly markets made it a subject of research, attracting IIM, Lucknow scholars and students from various universities.

Most of the shopkeepers here are the ones who do not have any permanent shop anywhere; they put up their stalls every day in these weekly markets in each of the areas. Most of them have their fixed location in the market where they put their stall. Though they have different customers in every area, many customers are their generation old visitors and lot of them ask for items in bulk.

weekly2Nadeem Siddiqui, gives you an insight in the changing world of transaction through technology here. “We send our bills through whatsapp and unlike before we don’t have to go to different cities for the purpose. Simultaneously, we browse the net and keep ourselves updated with latest arrivals in the market and demand for the same. ”

Pramod Tewari, the former publicity in charge tells TosNews, “Our low price is just not enough to compete with the mall culture so we try to sell the latest objects also. Of course not all the sellers here are familiar with the technology but yes everyone is keen to learn it seeing its advantage.”

Gulzar, the old tailor sitting inside LoveLane, Hazratganj tells us that most of the boutiques and tailors in the city get their stitching material from the weekly markets only. Be it designer laces, cloth, thread or needles and scissors.
“It’s always a tragedy when you get caught in the rain or when you are sweating profusely, wearing expensive designer duds- these markets are a boon, even if the items bought last only for an year it is more than paisa wasool,” chirps Tooba, a hot trendy customer.

Ruma, the lovely army officer wife confides, “We have lots of get-togethers, I do not want to repeat anything but cannot spend on it every other day. I get my whole new look i.e from bindi to jewellery, dress, footwear and purse in less than Rs. 600 and trust me till now nobody has been able to guess the price,” she winks!

You find vegetable and fruit vendors selling their items at weekly5lower price than the regular market, why? “Oh people who come here have the low price concept in their minds and our sales are higher here so in any case we earn our profit well,” Ahmad Siddiqui, the regular fruit vendor at Buddh Bazar tells TosNews.

Go with a few bucks and come back with items pouring out of your shopping bags. But do adhere to the advice of Nadeem Siddiqui, the general secretary of the association: “Sticky fingers are always in action here; take care of your belongings yourself!”

If you are a guest in Lucknow and like to get the feel of the real city, do visit your nearest weekly market. Not only you will witness original Lucknow here, you will also find it irresistible to buy gifts for whole family and friends from the bazaar. And if you are in a limbo, whether to buy white tees or the tiger print for your teenage daughter, just click the pic , watsapp her and wait for her to ping you for the bracelets she just saw in the pic you sent!

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