The concept of bazaar derives from the Persian term bāzār. The notion is used in the Eastern world to name public markets. Bazar is also the name of shops that offer different types of products.
For example: “I would love to visit the bazaars of Turkey and Iran”, “Do you like these dishes? I bought them in the bazaar on the avenue “, ” Taking advantage of an interruption in the filming, the actor spent several hours walking through a bazaar in India.
In Islamic, Hindu and Persian culture, the bazaar is a market that is usually roofed. In addition to an area where many kinds of products are sold, bazaars are meeting points for the population; That is why they have social and political importance. On the other hand, nowadays, traditional bazaars are a tourist attraction that attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, in Turkey, is one of the most famous internationally. It is located in the “old city” and has about 4,000 shops, which are visited by more than 250,000 people every day. In this bazaar you can buy jewelry, sandals, clothes, books, food and carpets, among other items.
Also in Istanbul is the Spice Bazaar. As the name suggests, seasonings abound in this market. The Bazaar of Khan el-Khalili (Egypt), the Bazaar of Tabriz (Iran) and Anarkali Bazaar (Pakistan) are some of the most popular.
The charm of the oriental bazaars arises from the fusion of a series of factors, such as its immensity (Istanbul’s stretches across fifty-eight streets), its aromas, the display of colors that its thousands provide of articles, and also the particular environment on a human level, very typical of the dealings between traditional merchants and customers. All of this makes them simply irresistible to people from the West.
In western societies, on the other hand, a bazaar is a large store that allows the acquisition of various items. In a bazaar it is possible to find tableware, kitchen utensils, decorative elements and toys, to name a few options.
In several Western countries, bazaars are associated with Chinese culture, although this is no more than an unfortunate coincidence for the thousands of immigrants who are subjected to working in these stores almost without rest. It is common to refer to a bazaar staffed by Chinese people simply as “Chinese,” a rather regrettable use of language that reduces an entire nation to an activity that does not represent the richness of its culture at all.
Western bazaars can be very practical for a number of reasons. First of all, they usually offer a wide range of products, which can get us out of trouble on more than one occasion. Their prices are usually very affordable, another factor that attracts the general public and diverts their attention from the competition. Finally, the opening hours of the bazaars are especially long (sometimes they include Sundays and holidays).
All that said, it is necessary to point out some of its weaknesses. Although in a bazaar we can find a great variety of articles, they are generally not of good quality, and this explains the difference in price they have with those sold by specialized stores or large chains. With regard to schedules, while customers benefit from having the bazaar every day, shop assistants lead lives that border on slavery; If they are foreigners and do not do well in the local language, we must add the constant humiliations to which society subjects them.
