How our urge for more luxury & comfort has transformed us from local markets to big and sterile shopping malls, online shopping & elegant fashion stores lined up on both sides of the roads. But if you give it a thought, these lifestyle centers have put an end to that hidden excitement of rushing through those scattered markets and squeezing into its narrow lanes to shop around. None of them can beat the Weekly Neighborhood Bazaars fun!

Being in a country with most diverse culture & tradition like India, Thankfully, it is not the end of the world, and we still can have access to these attractive, vivacious markets & satisfy our unexplained excitement. Not only the urban markets but in a country like India, the rural bazaars have so much to offer. I am quite sure most of you have seen or aware of a village weekly bazaar. Ever wonder what exactly weekly market is?

Village Bazaar is held in one or the other village every week. This Bazaar helps the locals neighboring the village to trade, barter and buy domestic items & other essential articles as most of the interior villages of the rural India do not have proper linkages to the market & one of the developed villages which have good connectivity host a weekly bazaar.

In fact, there is so much that we miss out by not shopping in a village market that if I start to list it will never end.  Here is a list of 6 reasons, why the weekly Bazaar day is too good to miss.

1. Be the Member to Real Life Farmville

Local farmers generally bring a variety of commodities to sell ranging from vegetables to seasonal fruits, flowers and grains to food products. At Weekly Bazaar you get the best of local, seasonal produce because they come directly from the farm and sold by the Farmers themselves. No middle men and no spoiled produce due to repeated loading and unloading of produce during transportation. Also, these Bazaars are set up weekly so that Farmers are given enough time to participate. Hence farmers bring you nothing but the best produce that’s farm fresh.

2. Be the Shopaholic You are

The Weekly Bazaar is held once in a week on a particular day for a particular village and said and unsaid these Bazaars are amongst the most colorful market in the region. The Bazaars are open from 9 in the morning until late evening & It is a place where you can buy it all. Almost everything from the large clay pots to tiny plastic toys which is useful for villagers can be seen on sale here. Stalls of clothes, rice nuts, seeds, and spices can also be spotted in the market. Here you can buy not only the required vegetables and groceries but also alluring embroideries and handicraft and treat yourself with savory snacks.

3. The Best Bargain Bazaar

Have you ever negotiated for a price while shopping?  Or have you seen anyone bargaining? ‘Saving is an earning’ is a new normal, and there might be ‘n’ number of articles out there to learn negotiation techniques, but learning the bargaining wisdom in Bazaar is all the more special; as the variety here is abundant with an unbeatable price range, especially when one has the liberty to bargain. People from different localities in the region are seen buying, selling and bartering along with fellow traders. Even observing the bargaining skills of local is an altogether different experience which you will not get to see in city life.

4. Outdoor Food Court that Offers a Broad Range of Cuisines

Tired of shopping? Have the best of refreshments you can have. The bazaar is fun not only because it has great products but also cause of the food stalls beckoning some delicious looking street food. From tantalizing Thalipeeths (Parathas) to crispy Bhajia’s, the Bazaar assures an indelible treat to your taste buds.

5. Learn about the Rural Economy

The weekly Bazaar is also a place to understand the rural enterprises where locals gather in the Bazaar to trade their products and purchase their food supplies for the week. These Bazaars also have many other produce such as handicraft, accessories and decorative pieces for trading which give us an insight into the overall rural economy & commercial lifestyle of natives. Hence visiting a Bazaar helps you understand the rural economy beyond agriculture. So next time, if you see a village Bazaar, try to spend some time just observing. It is quite an experience.

6. Experience the Local Culture

In my opinion, a visit to any weekly Bazaar of any village is an opportunity to get the glimpse of the social lifestyle of the people living in that locality. Imagine spending your Sunday shopping after a demanding week and still having fun in doing so. And if you consider local urban markets are fun then think how much more the authentic rural bazaars will be exciting you. As it offers not only the much-needed household items but also great food, accessories, antiques that bring you closer to the local culture and help you get acquainted with the village life. I am sure with its creativity, lifestyle & rich culture these countryside Bazaars can add some of the finest memories to your offbeat travel experiences.

And that’s not all; there are too many things to explore in this bazaar that you will not believe that you have been missing out on all this stuff; We must come out of our comfort zones, and only then we will realize that weekly bazaar is not at all a bad place to be in. So whenever an opportunity arises, make sure you visit the local Weekly Bazaar!