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Meenā Bāzār or Mina Bazaar (Urdu: مینا بازار, Hindi: मीना बाज़ार, Bengali: মীনা বাজার) is a special bazaar to sell items to raise money for charity and non-profit organizations. It also refers to a number of modern-day shopping centres and retail stores.
In the Mughal era in India
During the Mughal era Meena Bazaars, also known as Kuhs Ruz ("Day of Joy") were exclusively held for women, while the king and a few princes were the only males allowed to be present in the Meena Bazaar.[1][2]
The Bazaars were open for business for 5 to 8 days during the Norouz (New Year) festival. King Humayun was the first to organize them, but Akbar and his successors made them more elaborate.
According to a major newspaper of Pakistan:
"In the Mughal Era, during the Nauroze, special bazaars would be set up only for women. These women came to prepare for the 5 to 8 day festivities and the Mughal Kings and Princes were the only men allowed. It was usually famous among the women of the Harem (Mughal Concubines) and the wives and daughters of Rajput noblemen who put up stalls to sell expensive items".[3]
Later, after the decline of the Mughal Empire, the fair was closed for the public.[4]
Other
In India, Meena Bazar, refers also to a bazaar of the famous Qaisarbagh in the city of Lucknow in the Awadh region of the country.[5] This bazaar was enjoyed by the royal ladies living in the Qaisarbagh complex of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.[5]
In Pakistan, the Meena Bazaars are organized by students of schools, colleges, universities, and other non-profit organizations to raise money for their activities.
In the United Arab Emirates, Meena Bazaar is the name of a well-known shopping location in Bur Dubai. Since 2000, Meena Bazaar is also becoming popular among tourists.
In Bangladesh, Meena Bazar is a well-known chain super shop.
In Birgunj, Nepal, Meena Bazar is a well-known traditional grocery market that stretches from Maisthan Temple to Ghantaghar (Clock Tower). It is the central market of Parsa District.
See also
- Arabber
- Bazaar
- Bazaari
- Hawker centre (Asia) a centre where street food is sold
- Market (place)
- Meena Bazaar (Karimabad)
- Pan Bazaar
- Peddler
- Retail
- Street vendor
- Street food
- Souk
- Wet market
References
- ^ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). p. 80.
- ^ Eraly, Abraham (2007). The Mughal World: Life in India's Last Golden Age. Penguin Books India. ISBN 0143102621. p. 70.
- ^ Khan, Manal (9 July 2015). "Colours and conversation at Meena Bazaar, Karimabad, Karachi". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). pp. 102–103.
- ^ a b "The Walled Palaces of Kaiserbagh (by Anil Mehrotra Neeta Das)". Zeno Marketing Communications. Inc. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
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