It is 4' O Clock in the morning. While the Delhiwallas are fast asleep after a hard days work, a certain set of people in Delhi are preparing to start their day well before the first sun rays hit the rooftops of Delhi buildings. These are no ordinary people. They are the Flowers ellers of Delhi or should I say NCR! They are the phoolwallahs who deliver those lovely Lillis, the carnations, the roses, the gladioli, the birds of heaven, narcisus that adorn our rooms, form bouquets for our loved ones, shape heavy garlands that is exchanged during 'varmala' in Indian weddings. The flowers for that vase in the hotel lobby or the one which is tucked in the hairdo of Indian woman, or the bouquet which a lovelorn sends to his elusive muse. The marigolds or 'genda phool, now made famous by the song in film 'Delhi 6' - this humble Indian flower is most commonly used during pooja (idol worship) by the Hindus. This market also delivers the white tube roses - Rajnigandhi which emanates heady fresh fragrance. But this is also the preferred flower which forms a wreath!.
I had to digress, because the flowers are such that it needs more attention than the sellers. All these men and some women from different parts of the city and suburbs head towards the grand old CP or Connaught Place to sell and buy fresh cut flowers. This is the market which provides flowers to the city of Delhi and NCR. This colourful and unique morning bazaar starts at the early hours say around 5 and wraps up by 9 am. In the semi darkness of the wee hours, the tempos, trucks and carts laden with fresh flowers from nearby areas as well as other cities assemble for the morning bazaar. Soon brisk transaction starts taking place, haggling, bargaining goes in full steam.
Rows of stalls selling roses of all kinds and colours, carnations, dahlias, Lillis, birds of heaven, marigold, lotus, jasmine, gladioli, mogra, wildflowers, ferns line up on the opposite road to Hanuman Mandir stretching from the Coffee House right upto Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts buildings. The scene is a riot of colours and some hard bargaining can be witnessed. This market not only caters to the flowers shops but also individuals. I picked up few bunches of Lillis, orchids and dragon of heaven for a steal - a quarter of the price that one pays for the same flowers at Khan Market or Ferns and Petals. So if you are adventurous and can forgo few hours of extra sleep on a lazy Sunday morning, and only if you love flowers, then shrug off the early morning blues, drive down or rather cycle down to the old CP savour the early morning Flower Raga, pick up that lovely bunch of Lillis, carnations or rose and wake up your muse with the fresh bunch of flowers. That surely will be remembered as one of the most romantic mornings!. After all, in these days of 'Home Delivery' and 'net order' how many of us actually bring flowers for our loved ones.
I would rather say, be selfish - gift yourself a bunch of fresh flowers and pamper yourself. You will get a high for sure.
Catch up with the Flower sellers every morning between 6 to 9 am.
Where : Parking bay on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place - opposite Hanuman Mandir
What you get ; Fresh cut flowers, artificial flowers, flower baskets, glass vases, cane baskets and wrapping cellophane for making bouquets.
What you pay: Lillis starting from Rs.150/- for a bunch of 10 sticks, Roses - Rs.60/- for bunch of 20 sticks, birds of Heaven - Rs.25 a piece, carnations - Rs. 75/- for 10 sticks, gerberas - Rs.60/- bunch of ten sticks
I had to digress, because the flowers are such that it needs more attention than the sellers. All these men and some women from different parts of the city and suburbs head towards the grand old CP or Connaught Place to sell and buy fresh cut flowers. This is the market which provides flowers to the city of Delhi and NCR. This colourful and unique morning bazaar starts at the early hours say around 5 and wraps up by 9 am. In the semi darkness of the wee hours, the tempos, trucks and carts laden with fresh flowers from nearby areas as well as other cities assemble for the morning bazaar. Soon brisk transaction starts taking place, haggling, bargaining goes in full steam.
Rows of stalls selling roses of all kinds and colours, carnations, dahlias, Lillis, birds of heaven, marigold, lotus, jasmine, gladioli, mogra, wildflowers, ferns line up on the opposite road to Hanuman Mandir stretching from the Coffee House right upto Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts buildings. The scene is a riot of colours and some hard bargaining can be witnessed. This market not only caters to the flowers shops but also individuals. I picked up few bunches of Lillis, orchids and dragon of heaven for a steal - a quarter of the price that one pays for the same flowers at Khan Market or Ferns and Petals. So if you are adventurous and can forgo few hours of extra sleep on a lazy Sunday morning, and only if you love flowers, then shrug off the early morning blues, drive down or rather cycle down to the old CP savour the early morning Flower Raga, pick up that lovely bunch of Lillis, carnations or rose and wake up your muse with the fresh bunch of flowers. That surely will be remembered as one of the most romantic mornings!. After all, in these days of 'Home Delivery' and 'net order' how many of us actually bring flowers for our loved ones.
I would rather say, be selfish - gift yourself a bunch of fresh flowers and pamper yourself. You will get a high for sure.
Catch up with the Flower sellers every morning between 6 to 9 am.
Where : Parking bay on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place - opposite Hanuman Mandir
What you get ; Fresh cut flowers, artificial flowers, flower baskets, glass vases, cane baskets and wrapping cellophane for making bouquets.
What you pay: Lillis starting from Rs.150/- for a bunch of 10 sticks, Roses - Rs.60/- for bunch of 20 sticks, birds of Heaven - Rs.25 a piece, carnations - Rs. 75/- for 10 sticks, gerberas - Rs.60/- bunch of ten sticks
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