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Small traders have a field day at ‘haat’

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Buyers having a look at goods at the monthly ‘haat’ in Berhampur on Sunday.

BERHAMPUR: The roads of Urban Bank and Annapurna market of the city turn into a different kind of market place every last Sunday of the month.

Traders of these areas observe the last Sunday of the month as a holiday.

The pavement sellers from all over the city use this opportunity to hold their unique monthly ‘haat’ at the place during the day. Since early morning till night hundreds of shops get opened up on a stretch of few hundred metres.

They sell every item ranging from shoes to gift items. When one buys a ‘Rayban’ for Rs. 80, he knows it is fake for sure but the price tag and the authentic looking fake logo lures the buyers, says a trader of spectacles who opens up his shop every month. Shoes and watches with looks of high sounding brands also sell in the market.

The traders say they emulate their counterparts selling goods on the pavements in ‘Dharmatala’ area of Kolkata.

Many educated youths from poor families also use this monthly ‘haat’ to get some income in hand. They visit Kolkata a week ahead to procure some cheap but trendy looking item which would have a good market in the city.

For the city dwellers like Pranita Patnaik, this market provides an opportunity of entertaining pavement shopping, which is part of life in metros.

According to her, due to this market she is able to buy the latest electronic toys and cheap curios even before her relatives living in Metros like Mumbai get them. Some shops also open up to sell used dresses.

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