Despite 400 years of a long and glorious past, the old, rather the real part of this city is as self-effacing as can be.
Having riveted academics, architects and aam aadmi with the charismatic Charminar and the mighty Mecca Masjid for years, it still remains in the mind of a Hyderabadi for bangles of Chudi bazaar, sheen of the Joda Bazaar and the magnificence of Meena Bazaar - all sobriquets of Laad Bazaar.
With a history as old as the city itself, the Laad Bazaar for Hyderabadis is a tradition that has been well preserved. Year after year, during Ramzan the market grabs the attention of the traditional, fashionable and unconventional who cherish a walk through the maze of exquisite objects.
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With endless movement and numerous flavours, the bazaar makes for a study in human nature.
Range of objects
The street echoes with calls of pavement vendors and shop keepers announcing their best prices, vying for attention from a potential customer.
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An unrelenting shopper can find anything from pearls, accessories, jewels, kohl (surma), perfume (attar), cloth material, bed sheets, bangles, mehndi , footwear, utensils to even groceries. And this season, the bazaar always wears its best.
Polki necklaces ranging from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 5,000, metal bangles with stone work available from Rs. 800 to Rs.2,000, laces on net, silk and velvet priced between Rs. 150 and 750, hand embroidered net sarees costing anywhere between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 8,000 are what shopkeepers in the bazaar lay their bet this season.
“There's so much variety that it's difficult to make up your mind. Since Ramzan has begun, we visit all shops to see what's latest and compare prices. Later, just before Eid the real shopping begins,” said Shafiunnas, a college student.
Spoiled for choice
Colourful stone bangles with their traditional gleam for children from the age of three are set to be a hot pick, says the manager of Paras Jewellers.
Priced between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000, the kids are spoiled for choice. “The necklaces with work on silver and 1 gm gold look as authentic as original ones with precious stones, on which we spend lakhs.
You can buy two sets or four without a hitch,” says Amula Reddy, a customer at a jewel store in the bazaar.
A few days before Eid, a walk through the bazaar and its labyrinth of bylanes is an experience in itself. One is sure to get exhilarated by the riot of colours splashed across the street.