Night bazaar opens in New Delhi

New Delhi: Night Bazaar, tourism minister Renuka Chaudhary's one of many ideas to enliven the Indian tourism industry has become a reality. The first night bazaar opened in New Delhi on October 26, and will function from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm initially.
The Delhi government and the union tourism ministry have come together to give shape to the idea aimed at wooing tourists during the peak season in the capital. The night bazaar, an idea from Bangkok's innumerable night-long bazaars, is being tried out experimentally to explore its popularity in the in the Indian milieu and hence its short timings.

If it proves successful, the experiment would also provide an indication of the kind of shoppers who visit the bazaar and serve as a prelude to a yearlong bazaar planned from December this year.

The night bazaar, located in New Delhi's upmarket Hauz Khas colony would comprise over 120 shops selling products ranging from ethnic silverware to designer dresses, handicrafts and paintings.

Officials are optimistic about the concept as it would give Delhi's residents a chance to shop at night, since most large shopping centers in the city shut by 7:30 pm unlike in Mumbai where shops are usually open till 10:00 pm.

The Delhi government is also planning to set up a similar night bazaar at Chandni Chowk.

According to Shiela Dixit chief minister, one night bazaar in the posh South Delhi colony and another one in the heritage zone of the old walled city would be a good idea as it would provide two divergent insights into the culture and traditions of Delhi.

Depending on the success of the 10-day bazaar in Hauz Khas, these bazaars will open for longer durations opening at 7 pm in the evening and continuing till 3:00 am. The Delhi government says it is ready to relax rules and regulations to promote this bazaar concept.

The night bazaar will also figure in the government's annual calendar of events, and will be circulated to the embassies to enable them to disseminate the information among foreign tourists.
Night bazaars are a big tourist attraction in countries like Thailand, which has the well -known Suan Lum Night Bazaar, the central Chiang Mai bazaar and Indira market among others. The bazaars are seen as a great alternative to the weekend market and allow citizens to beat the Delhi heat.