I took a ride to one of the oldest and largest wholesale markets in Bangalore, following the trail of flowers I found myself in the centre of the market place. My usual location to start as this is where locals come together for the essentials of life, to the market.
K R Market (Krishna Rajendra Market)also known as City Market, is the largest wholesale market established in 1928, about 88 years ago in Bangalore. Started off as a small red and white building, crowded with locals, farmers and buyers, today it’s much bigger.
It’s not really a popular tourist spot as it’s hard to get there, it’s dirty, filthy streets covered with rubbish and mud (the unknown). Busy with locals, trucks and loud screaming of traders getting a sale. But that’s a kind of a place I would go, rather than the usual tourist places where you only see foreigners. A market is where I see the daily local life, to experience the daily presence within the walls of history.
Unlike the popular Malaysian market that I visited a few months ago, Selayang Market, the vibe here is different, it’s real, open, friendly, the openness of locals who work along other migrant workers from Nepal and Tibet. Many from the north too. The local culture here is preserved and protected, even when the market is in the middle of a busy main streets and traffic.
The local vendors, farmers and traders are given a place to keep their tradition and culture going with plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers, with the trail of colors and life. Something Malaysia could learn from, sadly the Selayang market is up for ‘development’/parking space and moved to a smaller area, thus an example how Malaysians do not protect it’s history or culture.
I walked around seeing the diversity here, the poor, the rich, the beggar and the traders. Some rushing to get what they need, knocking you over when you stop moving, some taking their time to enjoy a cup of chai (tea), some moving flowers and fruits with big baskets over their heads. The smell of fresh flowers captured my motion, stopping me to feel them and the sound of noisy traders kept me moving along.
I stopped each time I saw another beautiful color, the bright yellow, the reds, the solid purples. So bright, so loud, so real. Flower garlands are an important part of the Indian culture for spiritual ceremonies and even in weddings. At times for commercial use when ‘entertaining’ a politician or someone of rank. It’s like a colorful bribe of happiness and respect.
Bangalore has become a growing city, and with the old and new coming together. It’s a typical way of India, growing together, in friction and in symphony of different minds. India loves it’s flowers, and I love it for what it is.
Here are a few scenes of my walk around the flower market, K.R. Market, following the trail of flowers.
Share this out…
