[Reader-list] Walk To Flower Markets Of Delhi

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

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Walk To Flower Markets Of Delhi 
 
Sunday 26th December 2010 
 
7 am to 11 am 
 
7 am: Collecting at meeting point 
 
11 am: Walk finishes at ending point 
 
Meeting Point: Connaught Place Metro Station (Baba Kharak Singh Marg 
Exit) 
 
Ending Point: Mehrauli Flower Market 
 
Mode of Commuting: Metro / Walk / Rickshaw 
 
Description: The walk will take you to the three main flower markets of 
Delhi. The flower markets of Delhi are temples of beauty amidst the 
concrete jungle of the city, and an integral part of the city’s 
heritage and culture. 
 
Sadly however, the Government of Delhi, in an extremely myopic vein is 
relocating these flower markets to one singular flower market in 
Ghazipur. We at The Genda Phool Project however are formulating a 
strategy of building public opinion against this proposal. We are 
working towards the possibilities of a campaign to save these markets 
on grounds of right to livelihood, issues of displacement, as well as 
issues of urban heritage and aesthetics, and those of people’s 
participation, involvement and consent in development initiatives. 
 
Each of the three flower markets is beautiful in that they have a 
distinct and unique character, which will be lost once they are 
relocated in a strange “flower market building” on the outskirts of the 
city. 
 
We will start our Phool Mandi walk with the market at Baba Kharak Singh 
Marg, opposite Hanuman Mandir. The mandi operates from 4 am to 9 am, 
and accomplishes business worth crores in this duration. The flash in 
the pan phenomenon – here now, gone in a second, is fascinating. This 
is India’s largest flower market, and specialises largely in cut 
flowers of all varieties and even some dry flowers and flower 
decoration equipments. 
 
  From New Delhi we move to Old Delhi, to explore the Genda Phool Mandi 
at Fatehpuri Masjid, Chandni Chowk. Again, only a morning mandi. 
Farmers and flower sellers are seen milling around, and again, by 
around 9 am the mandi vanishes, and the spice market of Khari Baoli, 
around which the mandi is located, emerges. This mandi only sells genda 
phool (marigold flower) in its loose form. 
 
Finally, we will take you to another city of Delhi – Mehrauli. The 
Mehrauli flower market again largely specialises in Genda Phool (in 
loose and garland form) but also some cut flowers. This Mandi however, 
is open all day, unlike the other two which are temporary / morning 
ones. 
 
Do join us for this one, it may be one of your last chances to see 
these lovely flower markets if the government has its way. But we are 
hoping it will not… 
 
Itinerary 
 
7 am – Collect at meeting point. Please be on time. 
 
7.15 am – 8 am – Explore the flower market at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, 
Connaught Place. 
 
8.30 am – 9.30 am – Fatehpuri Flower Market, Chandni Chowk. Indian veg. 
breakfast at participant’s cost. 
 
10.30 – 11 am – Mehrauli Flower Market 
 
11 am – Walk finishes at Mehrauli Flower Market 
 
Registration Details 
 
Contribution: Rs. 500/- per person. Breakfast and metro fares at 
participant’s cost. 
 
To register and for details contact Himanshu Verma / 41764054 / 
himanshu at redearthindia.com 
 
Notes: 
 
Please carry the following: umbrella / hat, water. 
 
Carry bags for buying flowers. Say no to plastic! 
 
Dress Code: 
 
Wear genda colours – orange, yellow, red & maroon.