Kinari Bazaar – A Wedding Street

It is a bazaar for the ceremonial occasions but most notably a place to execute your plans for a perfect Indian marriage. From ready to wear head gears to the delicate accessories of the bridal costume, you name it and it is here! Today this bazaar thrives on the demand generated by the rich NRIs who wish to replicate the pomp and show of the traditional marriages now mostly found in the Bollywood. It is also a bazaar that provides everything for the Rakhsabandhan as well as Ramleela!

by ANUPMA JAIN

Midway to Chandni Chowk, the road turns left into a narrow lane of Kinari Bazaar, old Delhi’s wedding equipment street. This is Asia’s largest retail market for weddingaccessories. The bazaar is packed with wonderful, glittering shops and is a popular designation for shoppers during the wedding seasons. Each shop is a curiosity shop. ‘Kinari’ Bazaar is a one-stop halt for all embellishments required for a perfect Indian wedding. From invitation cards and scrolls to ornate gold and silver braids, money garlands, ready-to-wear turbans and any imaginable wedding essential – it’s all here and happening!

The shop carrying large number of stocks as they also sells to whole sellers. The traditional item required for festivals and rituals, which are now difficult to find are most likely to be available at Kinari Bazaar. Kinari Bazaar is very famous for zari and zardozi work. It can offer any kind to every kind that one may need for an Indian bridal trousseau. The bazaar has also become the centre of attraction during the festival of Holi and Rakshabandhan. Operating from the 100-year-old, Kinari Bazaar more then 70 shops deal in wedding attire that are given on rent. Out of these, some of the shops cater to fancy dresses.

Zari is gold and zardozi embroidery is the glitteringly ornamental work, heavily encrusted gold thread work practiced in old Delhi. Zardosi items and laces can be found at reasonable prices. Hand-made items like fancy rakhis, makhmal (velvet) pouches and embroidered patches are also available here. Kinari bazaar is a dignified and eminent manufacturer, exporter and trader of traditional and religious products including Rakhi, Poshak, Shringaar Samagri, vandan varr, Sehra, Chooda (Wedding Bangles), kaleerain Mukut (Crown), Home Decor Items etc.

Amidst many crowded markets in old Delhi, shops here are overflowing not only with wares of great variety but also people from different walks of life. Most of the shops here have been doing business for generations. Some like the Arihant Zari centre, Lal Bishen Chand go back to the days of the 1857. Mr. Pradeep Jain of Prem & Brothers says “My grandfather started the business of zari work, which was very popular even 70 years ago. Times changed and we are now into selling wedding attire and jewellery for brides and grooms.”

Interestingly, most of their stuff is exported. “Indians settled abroad are deeply rooted into their culture and buy stuff from local markets at the time of a wedding in the family,” he revealed.

As one goes deeper into Kinari Bazaar the lanes grow even narrower. And it’s not just wedding shoppers that throng this Bazaar. It’s also a destination to buy festival accessories, especially for Dusshera. The whole street is then has an array of Ramleela bows and arrows. This is a place where you shop for effigies of Ravana and where you can assemble the whole cast of Ram Leela.

The market is open six days a week and remains closed on Sundays. The market is usually open at 11:30 in the morning and closed at 7:00 in the evening. Lit even during the day, it’s full of light and sound.

The collection of the things are so colorful that they could not be possibly found anywhere in the world. Traditional accessories beckon to those who are enamored by the traditional celebration of the rituals, festivals and wedding. So if you have a chance to go through the Chandni Chowk do not miss to go through this bazaar. You will cherish its memories for long after the experience!