Meena Bazaar

Meenā Bāzār or Mina Bazaar (Urdu: مینا بازار‎, Hindi: मीना बाज़ार) 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

During the Mughal era Meena Bazaars, also known as Kuhs Ruz ("Day of Joy") were exclusively held for women, while the emperor and a few princes were the only males present.[1][2]

The Bazaars took 5 to 8 days during the Norouz (New Year) festival. Emperor Humayun was the first to organize them, but Akbar and his successors made them more elaborate. The fair was closed for the public, while the women of the harem, Rajput ladies and the wives and daughters of the noblemen in the court, set up their own stalls to sell cloth, jewellery, handicrafts etc. Only the emperor, princes and some nobles were allowed to enter the bazaar to purchase the goods, which were sold at high prices. The earnings were given for charity.[3]

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.[4] This bazaar was enjoyed by the royal ladies living in the Qaisarbagh complex of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.[4]

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.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). p. 80.
  2. ↑ Eraly, Abraham (2007). The Mughal World: Life in India's Last Golden Age. Penguin Books India. ISBN 0143102621. p. 70.
  3. ↑ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). pp. 102-103.
  4. 1 2 "The Walled Palaces of Kaiserbagh (by Anil Mehrotra Neeta Das)". Zeno Marketing Communications. Inc. Retrieved 2009-08-14.

References


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