KOTI BAZAAR

by Geeta Dharmarajan *


provided by OPENAIR-MARKET NET


Bright bangles and kumkums

in little mountains,

and fresh from the village

are jasmines, pumpkins.

Skirts, blouses, kameezes

that stay in your dream,

in red,mauve and yellow

magenta and green.

Rat traps and bird cages

and beggars on wheels

men, women and hawkers

who shout out their deals.

Kites,puppies and voices

a world upside down,

Oh, you must know this market

in your little town!


(c) Geeta Dharmarajan, 1994.

"This poem was written during one of my visits to Hyderabad. The name of the market is the name of the poem: Koti Bazaar. It was first published in TAMASHA! a health and environment magazine for first-generation school-goers and children from non-literate families."

* Geeta Dharmarajan is the founder and director of KATHA. KATHA is a registered nonprofit society devoted to creative communication for development. Some of the main objectives of KATHA are -- to spread the joy of reading and the love of books amongst adults and children; -- to strive to break down gender, cultural and social stereotypes; and -- to help children and women become self-reliant, confident and creative.

Geeta Dharmarajan, Director of KATHA, Building Centre, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi 110 013. INDIA

Phone: 4628227; 4644031 Facsimile: 4643998. E-mail: DELAAB05@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in


Glossary:

KUMKUM: A powder, usually made of turmeric and other herbal

ingredients that women use to decorate their foreheads. Kumkum is usually

red in colour.

JASMINE: A white, sweet-smelling flower, popularly worn by women on their

plaited braids/hair knots.

KAMEEZ: The top part of the salwar-kameez, a popular dress for women.


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