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Mishri Bazar of Amritsar losing its sheen

Heavy traffic and congestion has affected the charm of visiting or being in this market

Amritsar: Amritsar, the holy city of Sikhs in Punjab, is also known for its over five hundred years old markets that have seen all ups and downs that the walled city has been a witness to.

The main markets that earned the city a big reputation were Paparian Wala Bazaar (crispy fried dough wafers market), Mishri Bazaar, Dal Mandi (spice market), Majith Mandi and Mai Sewan Wala bazaar.

One of the most visited places is Mishri Bazaar or the candy sugar wholesale market, which is counted as one of the earliest known markets here. Started in 16th century in a long narrow lane near Sri Harmandir Sahib, known as the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhs, Mishri Bazar required people to pass through many narrow lanes of the city.

There was a time when a large number of customers would visit Mishri Bazar to buy Mishri for their personal or business requirements in bulk. But today the heavy traffic and congested place has affected the charm of visiting or being in this market.

The Mishri Bazaar of the past is today a crowded place, and shops of wholesalers putting their goods outside their shops due to shortage of adequate place and the consistently running traffic have discouraged a lot of people from coming here.

``We are ready to shift our factories outside this bazaar if Government provides us land on subsidised rates'', said Kapil Dev, a manufacturer of sweet delicacies.

In the olden days, its proximity to Lahore attracted the traders from West and Central Asia to Amritsar's markets. Even today, several traders from all over Indian and especially the Delhi exporters come here to buy Muraba and other delicacies.

There are over 30 shopkeepers who are doing brisk business in Mishri (sweet candy).

``I am running a family business that was established by my forefathers and I have just kept the family tradition alive. Our shop is as old as the history of Amritsar. We are doing brisk business of Mishris,'' said Gurcharn Singh, a trader and manufacturer.

Mishri Bazaar is home to all varieties of dry fruits. Many shopkeepers claim that some of these varieties come from Afghanistan. Though Mishri Bazar is basically a wholesale market, one can also buy sweet candy in small quantity from some of the shops.

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