The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Of glitzy malls and area bazaars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 07, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Of glitzy malls and area bazaars

Staff Reporter

The advent of malls has not altogether changed people's preference for bazaars

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE: A scene at Shivajinagar in Bangalore. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: With the growing popularity of malls there may come a time when bazaars will remain only in memory.

"I prefer malls to bazaars, as the environment there is clean and hygienic. And also because it shows your status," says Sneha, a student.

Sreeshanth too prefers malls as gets everything under one roof.

"Credibility and quality are also good," he says.

The history of the word bazaar can be traced to the Persian word "baazaar" whose etymology goes back to the word "baha-char" meaning the "place of prices."

The bazaars, which have been a part of people's lives since ages, are closely attached to them. "We grew up shopping in the bazaars and we share an emotional bond with them," says Muktha, a teacher.

Lakshmi, a housewife, says, "The pleasure of shopping is derived only when I bargain at the bazaars. The malls lack the ambience of bazaars."

Window shopping

Though the malls have been synonymous with "window shopping" a lot many do purchase, says Krishna of Lee at Sigma Mall. Shravan of Indus Tree who runs a shop at Garuda Mall, says, "As the rent for the mall is high, we are forced to levy that price on the products."

Christopher, manager of Marks and Spencer at the Garuda Mall, says that customers are usually from the upper middle class; but window shoppers do stream in on Sundays.

The owners of shops at the bazaars narrate a different story.

"As of now, our business is not affected by malls, but after a few years there may be a gradual change in the scene," says Venkateshwaralu who runs a shop on Avenue Road.

`Bazaar preferred'

Narayana, who has a store on Gandhi Bazaar, says, "We have customers from all sections of society. Even to this day many people prefer to come to bazaars."

However, the glitz and glamour of the malls are gradually taking a lead over the bazaars.

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