Qissa Khawani Bazaar

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The Qissa Khawani Bazaar (Urdu: قصه خواني بازار ) (or 'Market of Story-tellers' ) is famous bazaar of Peshawar, in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The Qissa Khawani Bazaar or the romantic 'Street of Story-tellers' extends from west to east in the heart of the city of Peshawar. The cosmopolitan character of Qissa Khawani Bazaar is lined with its traditional kehwa khanas, Tikka Kabab, Chapli Kabab and dry fruit shops along with modern show rooms of leather ware and bright coloured garments. In days gone by, the bazaar was the site of camping ground for caravans and military adventures. The professional storytellers recited ballads and tales of war and love to mobs of traders and soldiers. Today the storytellers and the art of story telling have gone but the atmosphere of the bazaar is still the same. Bearded tribesmen bargain with city traders over endless cups of green tea. People from everywhere visit the crowded street. Afghans, Iraqis, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Afridis, and Shinwaris move around with ease and grace in their colourful native robes. It was the site of a massacre when British soldiers fired upon a crowd of unarmed protesters in 1930. The old shops of Qissa Khawani bazaar which are still there and active is Khan Muhammad Bamboo(Now Maqsood Bamboo) Shop and Lahore Sweet House.

There are also several publishing houses of Persian books in this bazaar with a long tradition of publishing Persian books about literature and Afghan history. Saba, Fazl and Danish are examples of such publishers.

Shahrukh Khan's father is from Qissa Khwani Bazaar.