By Nii Martey M. Botchway
Kolkata, India, July 15, GNA – Along the banks of the Hooghly River, in the heart of Kolkata, lies a bloom of colours and fragrance from the Mullick Ghat Flower Market.
The market which has become the city’s blossom icon for over a century, remains the go-to destination for flowers, attracting buyers from all parts of the city.
It is a favourite place for Brides-to-be, who seek the perfect garland for their wedding day.
The market’s narrow alleys and cramped stalls are filled with astonishing arrays of flowers ranging from roses, jasmine, orchids, sunflower, and marigolds, as well as herbs, each with its breath-taking fragrance that floats in the Kolkata air.
The Mullick Ghat Flower Market is a family business which is believed to have begun in the early 1900s when a few enterprising flower sellers gathered at the ghat to sell flowers to the city’s elite. The business is still run by descendants of the first owners.
The vendors arrive at dawn with baskets laden with fresh flowers, and spend hours arranging their displays with meticulous care, as the market comes alive with the hum of haggling customers, the sweet fragrance of blooms, and the vibrant colours of the fresh flowers.
Despite the rise of modern shopping centers and online retailers, the Mullick Ghat maintains its aesthetic appeal and is considered a part Kolkata’s rich history and tradition.
GNA