MULLICK GHAT FLOWER MARKET

Getting up at 4.30 am is a big deal for me as, I do not get up so early, but the day was special because I was going to shoot at the famous flower market in Kolkata, probably the biggest and oldest flower market in India. Tamoghna and I were standing on the road at 5 a.m., looking for a car to take us to our destination. It was drizzling, and we were eagerly waiting for an auto or a car. And guess what? A yellow taxi (eagerly waiting to ride since we arrived in Kolkata) pulled over before us and offered to take us there.

We got in the backseat and told the driver to take us there as soon as possible. An old Bengali song was playing on the car radio. Raindrops were being cleaned off the windshield by the wiper arm, and the cloudy sky and low light perfectly set the mood.

We reached Howrah Bridge a little before six in the morning that day. Fortunately, we were not late, and the sky had cleared by then. Tamoghana was guiding me to get there. The flower market is located directly under the mighty Howrah Bridge and sprawled by the side of the river Hugli. The congested area was overrun with flowers. As soon as we get there, the smell of millions of flowers hits our nostrils. No! No, you are wrong if you have imagined the area as a garden full of flowers. This market is unlike any other market in the country; noisy, crowded, and chaotic. The only difference is that this place deals only with flowers.

We were in the right place at the right time, trading was in full swing. No proper seating arrangement was available there. Most of them were selling flowers by standing or roaming in the area. Some of them were walking around with flower garlands around their necks. Among the various flowers, like tulips, dahlias, and roses, the marigold was one of the most widely available and sold.

Many people lived in the flower market, as we found that some of them were still dozing off inside mosquito nets. A big old construction was there on the other side of the market, where many people were having their breakfast in the small tea stalls.

Everyone was rushing around. Customers were rushing from one vendor to another in search of a better deal, and vendors were rushing to sell the flowers. Another fact is that you have to buy a lot of flowers there; you can’t just buy one or two.

After much planning, I could finally capture some images I had in mind for the Kolkata tour.

So, if you are planning to visit the market and experience the beauty amid chaos, then start early in the morning and get there as soon as possible. This place is a paradise for photographers and flower lovers.