It’s time to wind your way through the chaotic, colourful lanes of the best local markets in India to splurge on Diwali shopping!
The festive season is upon us, and the time has come for the yearly home and wardrobe makeovers. And even though almost every e-commerce website is running grand discounts and cashback offers, there’s nothing quite like exuberant Diwali shopping sprees at the local markets around India. From glam traditional outfits, to gift hampers for your near and dear ones, to décor items for your home, the frenzied lanes of these markets offer not only the best of Diwali shopping experience, but also culture lesson and nostalgia rolled into one.
6 best local markets for Diwali shopping
Chandni Chowk, Delhi
Forever busy and dramatically chaotic, Chandni Chowk isn’t an easy place to navigate through. But if you manage to squeeze your way in during Diwali, the iconic shopping strip in Old Delhi, dotted by temples and snarled by traffic, is crammed with stores selling everything from street food to clay lamps, fairy lights, to designer outfit dupes. Dariba Kalan is a hotspot for silver jewellery vendors, while almost every lane has street-side shops for sarees and lehengas.
Look out for: Designer dupes for traditional wear, handlooms, jewellery, decorations, home accessories, etc.
Closed on: Every Sunday.
Bapu Bazaar, Jaipur
The best market for traditional products including vivid textiles, handicrafts, brass work, jewellery, and precious stones, Bapu Bazaar is located in the heart of the Pink City, between the Sanganer Gate and the New Gate. While it is most famous for Rajasthani mojari (traditional handcrafted shoes made from tanned leather), you can also get some great bargains on traditional Indian clothes like heavy embroidered skirts, silver jewellery, Jaipuri quilt, handlooms, and artefacts.
Look out for: traditional Rajasthani products, leather items, bandhej or tie and dye sarees.
Closed on: Certain shops remain closed on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Bara Bazaar, Kolkata
Even after Durga Pujo is over, the markets of Kolkata remain drenched in the fervour of festivities. A prominent market to check out in the central North of the city for Diwali shopping is the Bara Bazaar. Wind your way through the colourful, organised chaos and buy pretty embroidered sarees, jewellery, an interesting selection of lights, decorative items, and a variety of bags. You can also buy beautiful idols of Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, the main god and goddess of Diwali, from here.
Look out for: Traditional Tant sari, bags, decorative lights.
Closed on: Every Sunday.
Laad Bazaar, Hyderabad
If you are a fan of local shopping in India, you probably would have heard of Hyderabad’s popular bangles. Also popular as Choodi Bazaar, Laad Bazaar is a paradise of bangles of all kinds! Every year during Diwali, the market located near the iconic Charminar, gets all the more vibrant and turns into a riot of colours when its narrow lanes sparkle with countless shops selling shimmering bangles in lacquer, glass, and stone. The market also has shops selling antiquarian books, dainty crockery, fresh flowers, and antiques off its south side.
Look out for: Bangles, antiques, and crockery.
Closed on: The market remains open seven days a week.
Colaba Causeway, Mumbai
Take in the magic of the festive season in Mumbai as you stroll through the lanes of Colaba Causeway. This is hands-down the best place to shop for Diwali décor pieces, pretty lanterns, shawls, carpets, artificial jewellery, and ethnic clothes. Popular as the ‘culture square of Mumbai’, Colaba Causeway is surrounded by colonial buildings like the Prince of Wales Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art, that further adds to your whole shopping experience.
Look out for: Artificial jewellery, lanterns, souvenirs, and ethnic outfits.
Closed on: The market remains open seven days a week.
Commercial Street, Bengaluru
Commercial Street is the heart of shopping paradise in the Garden City. The lively atmosphere is always abuzz with activity, but the thrill of shopping here around Diwali season is unmatchable. Head to the market for designer ethnic wear, pure pashmina, home furnishing items, and much more. The famous Khadi Bhandar in dispensary road is a one-stop-shop for metres of fabric in cotton and Tussar silk. At Devenran Chowdary lane, you can buy some artsy silver jewellery as well as gold and imitation ones too. You can also buy floral decoration, and art pieces here.
Look out for: Tussar silk, flowers, and silver jewellery.
Closed on: The market remains open seven days a week.
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