Market Therapy :)

Even the noisiest marketplace fascinates me. The rich colors, the spicy aromas, the bustle, the abundance & the variety of the scene where life meets its needs, and the plethora of sights & sounds that surround it have always captivated my mind.

Occasional doses of the noisy local Madiwala Market, the SG Palya Kerala Market or the Saturday Market of the Chandapura Circle in Bangalore with their share of cows chewing up leftover radish leaves, cats mewling & drooling at the torpedo sized tunas on display, mounds of coconuts, flowers, vegetables and fruits, had often proved to be miracle stress-busters for us every once in a while. A natural retail therapy that unwound us from the continued stress build-up that often arose out of spending a lion’s share of our lives caged in enclosed air-conditioned office spaces.

In my family, a visit to Ooty was never considered complete without a trip to the famous Ooty vegetable market. The fresh veggies grown on the terraced farmlands of Ootacamund are a sight to behold. The colors splashed across the selling spaces are bright and garden-fresh. I must say that the Ooty market helped me understand/transform a bit of myself as well years back. Whenever it came to matters of gastronomy I’d always been an ardent devotee of non-veg cuisine. Matters are not much different now. I cannot live without my crabs ‘n chicken. But, Ooty vegetable market became that place on earth which made me fall in love with vegetables for the first time in my life. Something I had thought I would never be capable of. With its array of colors, so awesome… and fragrances so fresh, it remains one of the most tempting sights I’ll remember for a life time.

A click from the Ooty Vegetable Market...a fond treasure of mine.

I cherish all the marketplaces that punctuate my life across the varied timelines. Childhood memories of holding on to each other and moving through the bustling alleys of the vibrant & centuries-old Chandni Chowk, the crowded shopping streets of Karol Bagh, the sprawling shopping centres of Connaught place & the underground passages of Palika Bazaar, admiring the wares displayed by hawkers, taking in the delicious papri chaat scented air... at the same time cautious of pick pockets coupled with the fear of getting lost, are also priceless thinking back now. It might have been our first time in Delhi then, however the second, third and the fourth times too saw us winding our way back to those dark alleys in pursuit of the sights, scents & objets d'art they had to offer. Such is the alluring charm of a marketplace. It might have been the plain & simple joys of shopping, buying something new, bargaining over prices until you reach that tricky number, roaming around together, gathering new experiences or seeing new places. Whatever it might have been, I would say that market therapy works its magic equally on one and all irrespective of  height, weight, gender or age. 

I see sinful dreams of tasty tapioca & steaming spicy fish curry quite often & those dreams take the sinner in me to the Palayam market in Trivandrum a lot, where I discover tapioca, fresh fish & so much more...to eat on and dream on and on! My little one has her share of joys too when she comes along, enjoying as she delves deep into the horde of colorful bangles & trinkets that tickle her imagination. 

I’m sure I’ll remain a fan of the sights, smells & sounds of the open market until I die. The next time you feel tired of all those enclosed retail shopping centers & super stores, give the local open market a small try & feel the difference!