Gandhi Bhawan, Bhopal, India
By Abeer Khan
BHOPAL, INDIA – Anant Mandi, which is organized by Anant and Go Rurban every Sunday at Gandhi Bhawan, aims to promote ecological farming and local artwork.
Mandi in Hindi refers to traditional marketplaces. Anant Mandi invites independent artists and farmers to exhibit and sell their products.
The market is organized between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Organic farmers from different cities of Madhya Pradesh sell vegetables, lentils, grains, oil, honey, jaggery, natural fertilizers, dairy products, herbal medicines and cosmetics.
Many artists, potters and jewelers from the city also display their work for sale.
One vendor sold handmade naturally colored powder for use during the upcoming festival of colors, Holi. While, another sold handmade face masks.
Workshops and performances were also organized to keep attendees entertained.
The market offered a healthy food stall, which sold traditional home-cooked dishes made of organic ingredients. The options included black wheat dumplings, spiced beans and rice, Kashmiri tea and pickled vegetables.
The organizers aim to emphasize the role of farmers in the Indian economy.
The vendors and attendees adhered to social distancing and practiced COVID-19 preventive measures.
