CHAUTABAZAAR'S CHAOTIC CHARISMA...........
New York and Paris fashion magazines have reached a unanimous verdict that the only 'must have accessory 'for this Spring Summer's are chunky ,wooden bangles.Like those that our stunning Shilpa Shetty wore, while she asked you to, 'shut up and bounce'. Marc Jacobs has come out with an exclusive line of enamelled ones from $360 onwards, while Versace has gold plated ones that state the price on request.
If you are a fashion follower and want to know where to get your hands on something very similar, head for, hold your breath, Chautabazaar. Yes! before all you suburban socialites fall off your fancy chairs and wrinkle up your blackhead free noses, let me tell you the largest collection of hand painted,enamelled,frosted,metal plated and natural wooden chunky bangles is available ,cheaper by the dozen at our very own Mecca of maid fashion.
Hop into a CNG auto because parking space can be a killjoy to find. Get off at the Chetna restaurant curve, just by La Bella and walk down the slope that guides you into a catacomb of intersected streets. The first thing that strikes you about the place other than the typical, musty, walled city air are the vibgyor colours that happily call out to buyers. Unending rows of hand carts full of flip flops, children's clothes, women's lingerie, kerchiefs etc all hung up and around with vendors cheerily inviting to come and take a look. The backdrop is of matchbox like shops.
Don't miss the 'kharadi chimanlal'shop that sells brilliantly handcrafted wooden spatulas and kitchen accessories in sankheda and teakwood. Rolling pins, tongs, lemon squeezers etc all hung up with raw threads, you can pull down what you like. They also make the cutest little toys and cradles for kids to play with. Further down, on either side are rows of frilly garments and glittering gota patti saree ,chaniya cholis with an occasional jeweller, pearl smith, hand block printer [must watch], some fabulous lace and button shops and a couple of ones that sell DIY hobby ideas that teach you to make stuff like broaches, embroidered pictures, thermocal art, etc.Lahris sell glassware along with plastic kitchen strainers, combs and hair clips. The numerous stalls, that sell bangles and bindis are very popular; offering endless varieties of swarowski embellished, studded and multicoloured options. Handmade soap and oil shops and fresh gajra kiosks spread fragrance next to mothball and rat poison vendors.
Chauta bazaar area was earlier known as kapad bazaar. It is believed to be originally owned by the Brahmins of MotaMandir,the350 year old temple of Lord Krishna in a little lalji avtaar.The darshan of this 2 and a half inch idol can be sighted only with the help of binoculars from a distance of 25 to 30 feet,5 times a day. Many shops still pay rent of around Rs.25 to the temple authorities. Shops around Mota Mandir sell multicoloured, accessories for idols, little Velcro fitted skirts and sashes, pairs of stone eyes, golden crowns, diamante studded garlands that one can decorate the idols with. A few sell rare stone fossils and Rudraksh beads. The khadi bhandar here is frequented by Gandhians and offers incense sticks, kolhapuris, wooden curios with inlay work along with a variety of cloth. For foodie Surtis, farsan shops, freshly popped corn , sancha ice-cream, sugarcane juice, pickled fruit kiosks,sweetmeat stores and an ever busy south Indian food stall offer palate ticklers.
There is method in the madness here, and as the city bustles on the bridge above, the market below buzzes with bee-hive like activity.
Tapi town tattle- After the kyaa sabut hai? routine, Pakistan is on a new trip-Dhoondhtey reh jaogey!