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Strolling on the lanes of superstitious flea markets

A trip to the nearest flea market is always on a woman’s to-do list. Men often accompany them but they helplessly watch their woman fight her way through the narrow lanes and fellow shoppers to locate their favourite cheap but drool worthy clothes. 

The endless bargain, going through heaps of cheap clothes and the hot sun on top, bothers the shoppers. But there are certain superstitions that are ignored because it is part of a ritual, has something to do with religion or is simply a hidden obsessive compulsive disorder. There is a need to highlight certain superstitious occurrences as it causes inconvenience to the shoppers and is worthy of discussion. There are various superstitions that are a part of these markets and these things often annoy the shoppers but their love for shopping surpasses all hurdles.

While trotting about the market early, before the crowd barges in, bundles of clothes contain interesting pieces which one might buy easily. But superstition is one point which is often noticed and yet ignored. Few people have come forward to reveal different superstitions in various flea markets in the national Capital.

When the shopkeepers open the stalls/shops for the day around 11-12 am, they tend to sprinkle ‘jal’ (water) so that it attracts customers. The aim is not just to clean the area but to be aesthetically appealing so that shoppers head towards the particular shop. Jatin, a stall owner of jeans at Janpath market said: “sprinkling water brings us good luck. You’d see almost all shopkeepers doing it in the morning.”

The shopkeepers never let the first customer go empty handed (good for us shoppers). But one never really realises what agenda they hide. When Millennium Post asked another shopkeeper in Sarojini Nagar Market as to why he agreed to such a low bargain (a shopper bought a stole for Rs 50 even when the shopkeeper demanded Rs 150), he said: “Madam boni ho jaegi aise, ab boni hogi tabhi toh kaam theek chalega humara.” The most baffling of all superstitions is the one where they refuse to exchange item only because they didn’t sell an item first. 

One shopper Riddhi recalls how she was asked to leave the premises and come back in the evening when she attempted to exchange an item in Janpath market. She said: “I was surprised when he asked me to come again later in the evening. I waited right there for the boni to happen but the shopkeeper told me that waiting right here would delay the boni as my presence was affecting their sales. This was ridiculous but the shopkeepers were adamant and hence, I came back in the evening.”
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