Walk to the Dying Flower Markets of Delhi – 18 July 2010, New Delhi

July 15, 2010 at 5:43 pm · Filed under Endangered Species, Environment, Events, Social Environment, Summer

Walk to the Dying Flower Markets of Delhi
The city of flowers is giving way to the city of flyovers!

Sunday 18th July 2010
6 am to 11 am
6 am: Collecting at meeting point
11 am: Walk finishes at meeting point

Meeting Point
Near Ticket Counter, Dilli Haat, Opp. INA Market
Please park your vehicles here, the group will proceed in an AC bus from here.

Mode of Commuting: Bus / Walk

Description
The walk will take you to the three main flower markets of Delhi. The flower markets of Delhi are temples of beauty amidst the concrete jungle of the city, and an integral part of the city’s heritage and culture.

Sadly however, the Government of Delhi, in an extremely myopic vein is relocating these flower markets to one singular flower market in Ghazipur. We at The Genda Phool Project however are formulating a strategy of building public opinion against this proposal. We are working towards the possibilities of a campaign to save these markets on grounds of right to livelihood, issues of displacement, as well as issues of urban heritage and aesthetics, and those of people’s participation, involvement and consent in development initiatives.

Each of the three flower markets is beautiful in that they have a distinct and unique character, which will be lost once they are relocated in a strange “flower market building” on the outskirts of the city.

We will start our Phool Mandi walk with the market at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, opposite Hanuman Mandir. The mandi operates from 4 am to 9 am, and accomplishes business worth crores in this duration. The flash in the pan phenomenon – here now, gone in a second, is fascinating. This is ’s largest flower market, and specialises largely in cut flowers of all varieties and even some dry flowers and flower decoration equipments.

From New Delhi we move to Old Delhi, to explore the Genda Phool Mandi at Fatehpuri Masjid, Chandni Chowk. Again, only a morning mandi. Farmers and flower sellers are seen milling around, and again, by around 9 am the mandi vanishes, and the spice market of Khari Baoli, around which the mandi is located, emerges. This mandi only sells genda phool (marigold flower) in its loose form.

Finally, we will take you to another city of Delhi – Mehrauli. The Mehrauli flower market again largely specialises in Genda Phool (in loose and garland form) but also some cut flowers. This Mandi however, is open all day, unlike the other two which are temporary / morning ones.

Do join us for this one, it may be one of your last chances to see these lovely flower markets if the government has its way. But we are hoping it will not…

Itinerary
6 am – Collect at meeting point. Please be on time.
6.30 am – 7.15 am – Explore the Phool Mandi (flower market) at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place.
8 am – 9 am – Fatehpuri Flower Market, Chandni Chowk. Indian breakfast at Chandni Chowk, at participant’s cost.
9.45 – 10.15 am – Mehrauli Flower Market
11 am – Walk finishes at Dilli Haat

Maximum number of participants
35-40

Registration Details
Contribution: Rs. 500/- per person.
No contribution to be paid for children if they are sharing a seat.
To register and for details contact
Himanshu Verma
41764054
himanshu@redearthindia.com

Notes
Please carry the following: umbrella / hat, water.
We will provide some sharbats (traditional Indian cold drinks) / tea / refreshments on the bus.
Carry bags for buying flowers. Say no to plastic!

Dress Code
Wear genda colours – orange, yellow, red & maroon.
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