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Mercantile Floral Mornings

Writer's picture: Akash JoshiAkash Joshi

Updated: Jun 25, 2021

Having lived in Mumbai for almost three years, the cacophony of the city had grown on me. A year of having travelled via the much reputable (or disreputable) Mumbai local, and having had to, at more occasion than one, change lines at the much talked and walked about Dadar station, I had assumed I had seen the Mumbai crowd at its best, and its most. However, my encounter(s) with the city was during the "peak hours". Therefore, I had safely assumed that early morning hours would be home to some peace and quiet. But well, how mistaken was I!


The Dadar Flower Market, situated on the two lanes (if one can call them that) harbouring the Dadar Flyover, commences operations as early as 4:30 A.M everyday. Catering to the Gods, hair, love, wedding affairs and every possible event and situation where there is even a tiny possibility of the use of a flower (or even a petal), this market is not short of variety - roses, lilies, lotus, marigold, carnations - you name it. The only obstruction between you and your desired variety - the crowd. And the fact that the entry to the Dadar station is also through the same route doesn't really ease one's navigation through the market. You employ the same strategy as you would while waiting to board a train at the Dadar platform - let yourself be carried by the crowd, or carve a way out (craftily employing your elbows and shoulders).


Morning missions


We were a group of people who had come armed (with our eyes and cameras) to capture the morning market scene and, with the help of an extremely helpful guide, the flowers, in their beauty and bloom. Flower petals and water sprays infused in every layer of the air we breathed, it was a task to make sure our cameras weren't soiled and more often than not, we found ourselves cleaning our camera lenses more than we pressed the shutter! And the times we did, here are a few.


Faces


It would be strange to begin the series of pictures in a floral market with faces. However, faces are where your eyes first rest, upon entering these lanes. Of sellers, travellers, buyers, off-loaders, and onlookers. It's hard to miss, and impossible to ignore. So you have only one option - capture them!


Any buyer?

The smile was deliberate!

When the bargain doesn't seem favourable

Of pre-sale arrangements

Resilient bargainer

This, or that?

Flowers (in a floral market? Groundbreaking!)


Coming to the selling point. Although full of a wide variety, the eyes travelled only where the hand could possibly guide, and where space allowed us to hunch, squat and aim without a tremble. Presenting the stars of the morning!





Lotus views





A rose is a rose is a rose (of whatever colour!)


Garlands galore


And you thought humans were the only beneficiaries?


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1 Comment


Apoorva Yadav
Apoorva Yadav
Nov 06, 2018

This is so good!

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