Flea Market Fun

Whether you’re a bargain hunter extraordinaire, a photography enthusiast or are just really into crowds and old stuff; then the Sunday market at Ellisbridge is the place for you to go.

Called the Ravivari or Gurji market and set up in the old part of Ahmedabad, this quaint little weekend market teems with life- chaotic and colorful.

Initially started as a flea market with second hand goods from all sorts of categories and antiques, the ‘Ravivari’ has now evolved into a full-fledged bargain market were you can get everything from electronics to clothes to garden gnomes.

Now if you’re a brand fanatic; if quality and thread count and reviews in gadget guru are your thing, then this isn’t the place for you. However if you love the thrill of the hunt and finding a 1930 diamond pin gramophone makes you feel like Indian Jones (yes I did mean Indian Jones, it isn't a typo)… then please- step through the looking glass into wonderland .

The first thing that strikes you is ‘where’s the road?”

Makeshift stalls and handcarts piled high with wares fight for space on both sides along with the milling throng. The raucous cries of vendors create a symphony of cacophony on both sides. Press on! oh brave retail therapy seeker!- for at the other end of this chaos lies Xanadu. You will find everything here- hardware nuts and bolts merging seamlessly with cheap Sony knock offs and shockingly atrocious but gorgeously kitschy copies of Ed Hardy t shirts.

Take your time at each stall, linger and browse, because amidst the clatter clutter of common stuff you find priceless gems.

At a stall selling cheap radios, tucked away into the back, we found a pristine oak wood gramophone! The only flaw being an easily replaceable pin.

One vendor had his hardware of nuts bolts pins strewn casually across a mat; on closer inspection…Baam! Pristine coin dated to the Mughal period rubbing grooves with faucet washers.

Second hand books as far as the eyes can see; beautiful beautiful books which you thought were even out of publication. For the comic book aficionado you’ll find Tarzan and phantom comics from ’93, for the serious reader ; manuals on documentary photography which went out of publication in ’85 but has all the tricks of the trade from the masters . A well thumbed through copy of ‘Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance’ with an adorable scribbled dedication on the front page from a father to his son

And one of the crowning glories for me – mint condition, still in the cover, working wax LPs- The Yardbirds, Buddy Holly, Muddy waters – I’d go on but I’m in the throes of a musical ‘BIG Find” orgasm just recalling it. And how much does something as priceless as this cost ? 20 Rs.! Not even a dollar!!!

It's amazing the kind of stuff you get here- garden ornaments, automobile spare parts, bicycle tires, scrap metal, clothes sold by weight, household appliances – you ever needed something – you’ll find it here.

Do not hesitate to bargain. It’s the norm here. They will try to bully you , but stand your ground.

This is a photographers' paradise as well - the crowds, the colors, the rare artifacts. The important looking official who will try and convince you that this is private property and that you aren’t allowed to take pictures is just a minor bother.

Little hint- dress down. You don’t have to be a foreigner to have people quote a higher price or try and bully you – if you even look like you’re not a native Ahmedabadi - a species most famous for its deal making abilities - people will try and wangle more money out of you.

But that’s the beauty of any old world market. Half the fun, is in the bargain.

Open your senses. Treasures await

Clothes by the kilo

Putting the Pied Piper out of business

I remember these clocks. And the racket they made!

Drinking with style. a copper bottle cover and holder

Didnt the CIA use one of these tape recorders?

Ahoy there mateys!

Bicycle spares from wheel to washer

enjoy the milling crowd

Books..wonderful Books!

Have a seat !

Knick Knack Paddwack- Cycle and rickshaw decorations for sale

Take a Sunday off, hop into a rickshaw- get here. You will not regret it. 

Timeless 

Rat Trap

Ahmedabad Goes old School

Amdavad recently kicked off its first vintage car rally, and to this blogger, it was a resounding success. Strong words you say?

Let me paint you a picture. The Amdavadi is a creature that wakes up at 9, rolls out of bed by 9:30 and only towards late noon, finally meanders to work. And I am not talking about just the well to do businessmen here, I’m talking the daily wager, the 9 to 5er, all of them!

Now given this scenario, imagine my surprise when I reach Law Gardens at 7:30 am and find the place teeming with people. And not just quirky old parsi gentlemen with their 1932 Hudson Essex, or photographers with greasy hair or bald bloggers like myself, but people of literally every shape, size, and age. 

Law garden this Sunday was a veritable smorgasbord of color, creed, circa and speed. From the Morris Minor Circa 1931 to the Chevrolet Impala Circa 1959 and 1965 to our very own Rani of the Road – the ambassador law garden came alive with automobiles that made a gearhead like me gasp for breathe. From pimp pink colored Caddy’s to flaming orange Mustangs ,Amdavad came out loud and proud with its love for the beauty and grace of these powerful machines.

While the sheer beauty of these vehicles where enough to leave the best among us , including yours truly stunned and silent with the sheer beauty of it all, what made this occasion truly memorable was the people.  9 year old boys milled around 1947 Buicks , knowing details like the year and make, some of the more adventurous ones even getting into the car and with surprising ease showed their knowledge of working ancient gears with stick shifts.

Old men with jaunty little solar topis polished already gleaming bonnets to a shine so fine you could see your face in it. For a few seconds, faces lined with age and a life gone by transform into animated glowing palettes of expression as conversations veer to V8 engines and the benefits of the 4.7 litre over the 7 liter engine. But more importantly their faces glow with the pride of ownership and sheer joy they experienced in transforming what was once a beast of scrap iron into the beautiful machine you see today.

After about an hour of milling among the thronging crowd of feisty kids, avid photographers, proud old ladies and chatty old men- the piece de resistance- the rally.

Even the sun decided to play ball, and though bright and warm, wasn’t as hot as Amdavad summers usually are. And as we lined up on both sides of the road, one by one they came- bright, colorful gleaming, sashaying…nay hotstepping down the road, their owners grinning from ear to ear and waving

Buicks, Morris Minors, Volkswagen, Jaguars, Talbots, one by one they came, bumper to bumper they stood and with one final hurrah…turned the corner

That day got over sooner than I would have liked, but the feeling of a morning spent in the glory of a time gone by, will remain with me always .

Here’s a shout out to Mr. Subodh Nath and the Gujarat Vintage and Classic Car Club. Bravissimo! Hope there is more to come.

Some of the sights and wonders of that day are posted here. for the rest visit our Flickr channel on www.flickr.com/opencircle

The Morning Rush

I wasn't kidding. You CAN see your face in it, it was THAT polished!

He's got all the right stuff. Kids got an eye for detail all right

The Beast! Chevy Impala

And we're off!