In the Bazaars of Raviwar Peth…

“Where do you stay?” I reply “Pune City Area – Raviwar Peth”….Never heard of this place before…most of my colleagues reply. “Tu Gavat Rahato” I feel offended :).

Is city a village? Majority of my colleagues stay at outskirts of the main city – most of them are plush locations of Aundh, Baner, Kalyani Nagar, Kondhwa, and Koregaon Park which are predominantly residential areas. However, my (sorry my ancestors!) 5-storeyed house stands tall in the wholesale hub of Pune. Now, this wholesale market sells everything from safety pins to software, but yeah it is still a village! Let’s compare the property rates here – 30000 per sq feet at Raviwar Peth vs. 8000 per sq. feet at Aundh / Baner, little high for other areas mentioned above, but not at par at Raviwar Peth; but yes it is still a village…

However, a person who has spent its childhood in Raviwar Peth would be able to live in the bazaars of Raviwar Peth – bazaars where there is constant honking (by 2 wheelers, 4 wheelers would make traffic jam, and everyone would curse them for bringing them in this locality). So that’s the reason of not owning a car (:), though I still don’t know how to ride a bike too).

So what do I like about Raviwar Peth – area with narrow lanes and only commercial space that I am writing a blog about. I can spend countless hours looking at people. Families of four come on 2 wheelers and buy groceries, toys, birthday gifts, cosmetics, and clothes. Seasonality bring true colors to this place – Buying lights for Diwali, Small thermocol temple and thrones for Ganesh Chaturthi, Rakhi for Rakshabandhan, and of course colours for Holi. I enjoy looking at them, their purchase habits, their haggling nature, and poor husbands and boyfriends who totally seem out of place. But yes, they get the goods cheaper than “Big Bazaars”, and they seem happy about it.

All this viewed from balcony; where there is really cool breeze blowing on your face. Two – three hours are nothing when you enjoy this stuff. Though there are some disturbances from my mom who thinks I am wasting time. So after my office hours I usually stand in my balcony to catch the glimpses of the market – (also helps to know which festival is around and how one can plan out leaves!!!). “Why are you lazing around” mom remarked breaking my reverie.
“Lazing around” who said so?
“No one said, I can see”
“I am learning psychology in practical way” I say giving intelligent looks
“Which psychology?”
“Consumer psychology” She doesn’t say anything then. Sometimes I do win in the arguments…