Markets

There is ample opportunity for shopping in Kolkata. You walk down a sidewalk with stores and vendors on one side and stalls and hawkers on the other. Every day is Sidewalk Sale Day. Unfortunately there is an abundance of touts who think you need their help in finding their store.


I'm not much for shopping, my suitcase is already too full, but I do like markets....

Fruit vendors are on many corners. Apples, watermelon, pomegranates, papaya, oranges, pineapples,grapes, and ones I can't name are available, And bananas - green, red, and yellow....small, medium and petite. Bananas are everywhere.





Vegetables are more apt to be at the larger central markets but are sometimes found in small quantities in general stores...the ones the size of a closet.




Meat is also at the larger central markets or on random streets where you find a row of butchers. This fish vendor was outside a central market. I hope you can see the fixed curved blade that he uses for descaling and cutting the fish.

Here's a spice vendor. This one was outside the central market but there were others inside too. Saffron, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, curry, black pepper, coriander, cumin seeds and tamarind are staples in Indian cooking

Here's a part of a central market, this one is called New Market, where clothing and household goods are sold. There are rows and rows of these shops in this building. And there's another building across the street. It's air conditioned!



I have to say though...the market that mesmerized me was the flower market. Feast your eyes on these scenes...

In the south women wore flowers in their hair, but I'm not seeing that here.
Here, as in the south, flowers decorate temples, businesses, pictures of patrons, celebrations, grand openings, etc. I reached the flower market by 7:30 in the morning. There was a brisk business going on.