A Weekly Market Scene — ICSE Descriptive Essay

Weekly markets are a common sight in most cities and towns of the country. They are usually held once a week and are mostly located on the outskirts of cities and towns. Farmers of the nearby villages bring their produce to sell in these markets. Thus one can find health care and cosmetics products, selling side by side with agricultural products and farm produce, brought by peasants from the surrounding villages. This provides a good occasion for the people to savour the good thing of the town as well as villages. Thus it provides an excellent opportunity for people of the town and villages, to partake in the exchange process.

Last Sunday, I along with my father went to the weekly market in Chinhat, which is close to my home. The market is located near the highway which connects Lucknow to Faizabad. Parking the car on the pavement, we proceeded towards the market, which was bustling with people. On either side of the road there were makeshift shops displaying wares, ranging from toys to clothes, ready-made garments and cosmetics. Shopkeepers were hawking their wares loudly, often screaming on top of their voice to attract customers. Women and children crowded around these shops selecting the items of their choice.

I made my way towards the food grain market with great difficulty. It was more crowded, as people tugged along with their cycles and scooters. An occasional tractor trolley bringing produce from the nearby villages would add to the confusion. Finally reaching the market I found huge stockpiles of food grain of different variety on either side of the road. The farmers were hawking their produce quoting reasonable prices, which were being eagerly lapped up by the buyers. Others were busy selecting and comparing the produce, so as to strike a good bargain. My father too got busy and soon after making the purchase, we decided to return. This was not easy, after a bit of jostling and pushing we finally reached the main road.

A small fair was in progress on the other side of the highway. Children were having the time of their life, on the merry go rounds or on the swings, while their parents were away shopping. The balloon man, the juggler, and the snake charmer, had an appreciative audience, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy their performance. There was much merrymaking and laughter, which gives the market the semblance of a fair.

A little away was a vegetable and fish market. It was the dirtiest, and the most congested part of the market. Here the pungent aroma of fish and rotten vegetables was quite nauseating. However, farm fresh vegetables attract buyers, who usually purchase in bulk. The high pitch sales talk, the price haggling, shouts and arguments, justifiably made it the ‘fish market’.

I like the weekly markets, because they provide a very healthy interaction between the urban and the rural folks. They give the rural folks an opportunity to sell their produce directly to the customers, thereby improving their economic lot. The customers are also benefited by getting farm fresh products at fair prices. What I dislike is the unhygienic surroundings, which pose serious health hazards and traffic congestion. These pose serious inconveniences and dissuades city folks from visiting such markets.

Weekly markets play an important role in promoting trade and cottage industry, which is vital for the economic development of the country. However, there is need to make them more organised and accessible.