December 30, 2008

A Sunday

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Sundays are to unwind, to get lazy and watch loads of television. But if you are in Ahmedabad and are looking for something to recharge your senses, head to the Sunday market. Known as Ravivari, this market promises to be a treasure island that will surprise and enthrall you at every step.
This was my second visit and I was particularly looking for some good books. When we reached, the booksellers were still arranging the books.

There were books everywhere you looked. Tied in neat bundles, they awaited the glance that would give them a secure place in yet another bookshelf.


Literature, history, art, law, religion, science, photography – these booksellers have an extraordinary collection of second-hand books. All you need is patience to browse through thousands of books that lie in no particular order.


And if you’re lucky, you may find a 1950’s National Geographic magazine, a book showcasing photographs of the Vietnam War, a rare edition of a classic or an advertising journal that can inspire you for years to come.


Neha picked some 6-7 books. Not to mention, she went crazy looking at the collection :)
After enough browsing and sighing and buying at the book corner, Neha and I went around seeing other interesting things at offer. Gleaming utensils, vehicle parts, loud speakers, gardening tools, wrist watches, perfume bottles, pigeons and chickens – the list is unending, and at times bizarre.




These reminded me of the 'sigdi' we illegally used in our hostel room :P



This man would put the blue rings on the pigeon's feet before giving it away

And there’s a whole section dedicated to second-hand clothes. Stacks of them lay displayed on khatlas.


No matter how small the shop, people always do some puja before beginning the day
Barely used clothes, old-fashioned silhouettes, slightly defective clothes and those that don't fit anymore - this market serves as a perfect recycling agent that gives new life to the old.

But what fascinated me most was the brassware.


I loved the tiffin :)
I just couldn’t get my eyes off the amazing pots and locks.


Each little piece was a work of art, telling a story of a bygone era.
I was very tempted to buy the scorpion lock
The carvings, the designs and the finish were so great, if I could, I would pick all of them!

But then I settled for this cute high-heeled ashtray.
Meanwhile, I received many calls; it was my birthday. Everyone sounded surprised when I said I was at the Sunday market. “It's not the best way to begin a birthday”. I didn't argue. I know they wouldn't understand. They had to experience it to believe how breathtaking this trip can be.
Here, old is new…



Trash is treasure…




Bizarre is beautiful...




All you need to do is look carefully…




And learn to see things in a different angle.


I couldn't have asked for more on my birthday :)

20 comments:

Piggy Little said...

for you, a thousand times over.

love you.

Vineeta said...

It was your Birthday! Belated wishes! and you make me want to drop everything & head straight to Ahmedabad this Sunday :) Loved your pictures & this wntire post. What fun!

bhumika said...

@neha

:)) need i say more?!

@vineeta

my birthday was in nov. I was too lazy to post :P

I knew you would love this. Remember, i told you about that fancy lamp i saw here? When you come to a'bad, i'll take you to the market for sure :)

~ ॐ ~ said...

What a lovely post !!! it was like I walked through the entire market !!!

could you go back and pick the saxophone for me please :)

pink dogwood said...

wow - I would love that market. When I come to India 'janpath' in delhi is my favorite place to shop, but this looks even more fun.

Happy birthday!!!

Gauri Gharpure said...

ravivari (or gujri as we call it) was where me and my Baba went hand in hand.. it ws a joy, the place has a different smell and throbs with life. an excellent start to a birthday. wishes...

Anonymous said...

about time you wrote a piece... & a very absorbing one it is too.
might want to change the caption colour though, coz it's slightly hard to read.
;) perchance now, a camera worthy of the photographer has been purchased ?

Avishek said...

I loved the photographs. Each and every one of them was beautifully framed and each told its own story so emphatically. Thank you for a wonderful post, again! You go one better than yourself every time.

megha puNAter" said...

you did it,thank you bhumika.i am all nostalgic.this was my hangout every sunday morning.what a super post.
happy birthday.

Mana said...

Lovely pics.. You get to bargain a lot during such times.. :)

Belated wishes :)

Vineeta said...

Bhumika- just pasting the Kala Ghoda Info for u :)
Subject: KGAF 09

Mark the dates in your calendar - 7th to 15th February.

There's a lot of great stuff being planned, so keep yourself free. Watch this space for the schedule announcement. And do invite friends to join this group, please. (: And if you'd like to become a Facebook fan of the Kala Ghoda Association, http://www.facebook.com//pages/Kala-Ghoda-Association/31996930449 is where you go. :)

dharmabum said...

what a fascinating place to be in! i'l remember this and hope to be in ahmedabad on a sunday, even though i don't much enjoy shopping :)

~ ॐ ~ said...

abe 2009 mein bhi kuch likho !!!

kahan gayab ho?

Archana Srinivas Pottery said...

bhumika~

I am in love with this market!!!!

Can I join Vineeta, when she visits you in A'bad???

Please, Please;-)

Arch

bhumika said...

@omie

pakka. if i still find it the next time i go, i'll pick it up for you :)

@pink dogwood

janpath is so much fun. but next time, make a trip to the sunday market. you'll love it!

@gauri

so true. the place 'throbs with life.'

@girish

sorry babu, can't change the colour. kindly bear with it.

and about the camera...ummm...well... :)

@avi

thanks. that means a lot to me :)

@megha

my pleasure!

@manasa

oh yes, bargaining is the best part ;)

@vineeta

thanks for the details, will try and come for sure!

@dharmabum

please do come over a sunday. it'll be fun

@arch

most welcome! i'll be more than happy to have you and vineeta for company :))

Anonymous said...

for the love of heaven, post something already !!

this 1 a month routine is quite painful.

pRiyA said...

thank you for visiting The Plum Tree Bhumika. What an amazing post this. I was rivetted. I couldn't get enough! I liked the antiques best of all and I thought the high heel ash tray an excellent choice.
Happy belated birthday!

bhumika said...

@priya

welcome to my blog and i really like going through your amazing blog. Yes, the ash tray was so tempting, i simply couldn't resist :P

thanks for your wishes! Hope to see you more often.

Deepak Singh Dogra said...

Hi,
Thanks for the appreciation. Do come again.
Really interesting observations at the Sunday market.
Deepak.

Shaival said...

Hi Bhumika,

I finally managed to read your blog. And what can I say, it's wonderful. The photographs are amazing! I am bored of the sunday market but your post on it makes me want to go there again! :-)