Indian scarf seller shares family business secrets

July 21, 2011 by Leave a comment

A scarf seller at the Dilli Haat market describes how he and his family make wool scarves.

Story and video by Ryan Bramhall and Bethany Trueblood

Abdul Wahid Ashraf was one of many lucky vendors who received a stall in the Dilli Haat market for 14 days after entering a lottery system. He and his family live in Kashmir, a state surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains. Kashmir, Ashraf’s home state, is well known for producing India’s famous Kashmiri shawls. It is there where Ashraf and his family spend their time hand-making shawls for New Wahid Arts, their very own full family business.

Ashraf’s fabric of choice is pashmina, which, as he puts it, is “the very finest of wool from Kashmir.” Pashmina is soft wool from a Ladakh goat.

Ashraf works as a vendor in Dilli Haat, which is a popular tourist marketplace in Delhi. He has just started work here three days ago.

Dilli Haat works like a lottery – businesses throughout India put their name into a drawing and if they are picked, that lucky business may sell its product in the marketplace for a total of fifteen days. The more workers a business has, the greater its chance is of being picked. Luckily for Ashraf, his family-owned and operated business reaches a total of more than 40 workers – giving New Wahid Arts multiple opportunities throughout the year to sell hand-made shawls and get money for their employees’ hard work.

Ashraf says his business is doing well for the three days he has worked there, but he knows that business in a shop that sells shawls is not as profitable in the summer monsoon months as it is in the winter.

Filed under culture, markets

Selling appliances fosters father-son connections

July 20, 2011 by Leave a comment

Video by Cole Miller | Story by Lorena Carmona

“It comes from the blood to sell this stuff,” said Kapil Khurana, a market shopkeeper.

Khurana and his family have been in the business of selling home appliances for the last 42 years at the Indian National Army Market. From pots and pans to mixers and utensils, the shop has not changed much over the years but the market has.

With India reaching 1.2 billion people, Khurana has noticed an increase in the market. From the number of people passing through each day to the amount of shops being opened, growth is happening.

“My father said in 1969, he used to sell rice tables on the floor only. They had no shops at all,” Khurana said. “It’s come a long way.”

The INA market is an assortment of small shops crowded together that sell fabric, food and a variety of items. The market brings together a mixture of sights, sounds and smells. Each shop shows its unique character.

The Milton, Khurana’s shop, was passed down to him by his father. He has been the owner for the last eight years. The life-long New Delhi resident said there was a never a doubt in his mind that he would run his father’s business.

“I always heard about the business when I was young,” he said. “It was always business, business, business. You just do the business and it is just better for you.”

For many of those people that choose to work at the market and own their own shops, the process is not easy.

Khurana said it is not simple at all to open a shop in the market. He had to work in a shop for many years and fix his language so that he can talk with customers and know how to interact with them, he said.

“It is definitely a process,” Khurana said.

Even with the growth, Khurana believes that India is heading in a good direction.

“It’s a very bright future in New Delhi,” he said. “Things are improving day by day, so it’s a bright future in New Delhi.

“People are coming day by day and things are getting sold.”

Khurana said he may stay forever.

“It’s just a good market, good clientage … that’s it,” he said.

Filed under markets

Market puppet makers preserve family’s traditions

July 19, 2011 by Leave a comment

Intricately painted handmade puppets display years of family tradition and culture. | Photo by Elisabeth Loeck

Story by Ashley Burns and Elisabeth Loeck | Video by Camila Orti

In a corner stall of Dilli Haat, an arts and crafts bazaar in New Delhi, a family of puppet makers is preserving the traditions of old India.

Brightly colored ornate puppets are strewn around the stall, clothed in a variety of outfits and wearing a hand painted face. Festive gold and silver tinsel border the handmade cloth of each outfit. Each puppet is unique.

Specialty made puppets include a two-faced entertainer with four legs, as well as one that flips upside down to reveal a second character hidden under its intricately designed garb. This one is called Rajarani, which means king and queen in Hindi.

“Look watch, King,” says one of the brothers, Midu, holding up the distinctive puppet, “Now, Queen.” With a simple twist he turns the puppet over to show a queen character.

Some display traditional facial jewelry while others tote instruments that jingle as the puppet masters worked the strings.

Running the stall are three brothers, who each have a part in the family trade.

Midu, one of the brothers, relaxes inside the shop, rhythmically playing one of his drums. | Photo by Jennifer Gotrik

Two of the brothers laugh and talk over each other, explaining the three- to five-day process they go through to make their puppets – carving, sanding and painting each figure individually. Special projects such as a six-foot puppet that was operated from the inside took the family around six months to create.

However, these puppets are not just trinkets for tourists to take home and enjoy. These creations are part of India’s rich culture.

Several times a year, members of the family put on puppet shows during seasonal festivals. Another production involves performing traditional Indian dances, such as Ghoomar, a women’s folk dance from their home state of Rajasthan.

Spectators have included the prime minister and Bollywood stars.
The duo shares a photo album of their work that displays pictures of various festivals, a family member performing a fire dance and puppet shows from across India.
The intricacy of their trade and the passion the family shares for the creation and performance of traditional India art is evident in the enthusiasm of the brothers running the stall.
See more from the puppet makers:

Filed under culture, markets

Dilli Haat: Representing India from New Delhi

July 19, 2011 by Leave a comment

The sights and sounds of Dilli Haat Market in New Delhi.

Video by Matt Heng | Story by Christina Condreay and Hailey Konnath

Amita Sharma has been going to Dilli Haat for the last decade. A New Delhi native, she comes to the marketplace for the food and the shopping.

“We come here often,” she said.

Dilli Haat, a food and craft bazaar, is in its 17th year of operation and has seen wide success, said Rajesh Juneja, the manager.

Juneja started working for the market in 2009.

It occupies six acres of reclaimed land over a large drainage system. There are 166 stalls and 25 food stands. It has become a landmark for Delhi, Juneja said. It is a popular place among tourists and locals alike.

“It’s very nice,” said Florine Bos, a visitor from the Netherlands. “Beautiful shops, beautiful things.”

A convenient feature of the bazaar is having many different things in one place, she said.

The bazaar features crafts and food from almost every state of India, Juneja said. It highlights craft, culture and cuisine. And Dilli Haat has seen its fair share of well-known dignitaries, including Prince Charles of Wales and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Imran Ahmed, a vendor at Dilli Haat selling scarves, said the bazaar offers a relatively inexpensive opportunity to sell goods in Delhi. Most vendors operate on a rotating system with some staying as few as 15 days and others staying longer.

“It’s the best location,” Ahmed said.

Dilli Haat is not limited to New Delhi. It has traveled to Great Britain and Germany with select artisans and sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles.

Filed under culture, markets

Chili peppers protect Delhi shopkeepers

July 18, 2011 by Leave a comment

Chili peppers hang from a storefront. | Photo by Carly Shinn

Story by Carly Shinn and Elias Youngquist

Modern India is all about forward progress and evolving technology, but pockets of old world superstition still exist.

Throughout the Indian National Army Market in New Delhi, shops offering everything from Tupperware and fish to spices and Nokia phones all share a common superstition in the form of bundles of chilies atop a lemon that dangles above each storefront.

According to Indian folklore, the custom of hanging chilies wards off evil spirits when hung from the threshold of a store or house.

Mari Pupesh works at the Raj Silk Store in INA market and is one person who believes in the powers of the chilies. He explained that the chilies are used today to protect from the jealousy of others and is good for business.

“If someone is jealous of you it will save you and bring good luck,” said Papesh about the peppers.

As the new world encroaches upon the old world of India, these vestiges of superstition and traditions continue to survive.

Filed under culture, markets

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