As far as festive street shopping in North Kolkata goes, Hatibagan Market is no less than an iconic destination for shopping that ranks right up there with the likes of New Market and Gariahat. Nestled within the vicinity of Shyambazar, the age-old market bazaar becomes active in Durga Puja with its vast pavement shops, traditional saree boutiques, and affordable ethnic wear. Be it handloom cotton sarees or royal silk sarees, oxidised jewellery or festive home décor – Hatibagan has got it all. Here’s everything you need to buy from Hatibagan Market for Durga Puja.

What To Buy At Hatibagan Market For Durga Puja

1. Traditional Bengali Sarees 

Authentic Bengali handloom sarees. Hatibagan is famous for its historic saree stores (like Nalli, Tantuja, and Mahananda) as well as street stalls selling soft Taant cottons, elegant Dhakai Jamdani, lightweight Tussar, and traditional red-and-white Garad silks for morning Anjali.

2. Trendy Ethnic Wear and Readymade Kurtis

Pocket-friendly festive wear. Street stalls along Bidhan Sarani display thousands of affordable designer kurtis, Anarkali sets, Indo-Western tunics, and embroidered dupattas perfect for casual afternoon pandal hopping.

3. Traditional and Oxidised Silver Jewellery

Statement accessories. Hatibagan's street lanes feature endless displays of oxidised silver earrings, heavy jhumkas, choker sets, brass bangles, and traditional shakha-pola (conch and coral bangles worn by married women) at unbeatable prices.

4. Men’s Ethnic Wear 

Traditional festive attire for men. Find cotton Punjabis with delicate Kantha embroidery, Lucknowi chikankari kurtas, silk festive jackets, and classic dhotis suited for Ashtami rituals.

5. Footwear and Juttis

Comfortable, stylish footwear. The open-air stalls along the sidewalks stock thousands of ethnic juttis, embroidered mojris, strap sandals, and cushioned flats designed to keep your feet comfortable during long night walks.

6. Festive Home Decor and Handloom Items

Seasonal home accents. Pick up handcrafted clay diyas, brass idols, decorative door hangings (torans), embroidered cushion covers, and handloom bedspreads to refresh your home before Goddess Durga arrives.

Essential Shopping Tips For Hatibagan

  • Timing Is Everything: Make your visit between early afternoon hours (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM) to miss the crowd in the evenings and make better deals with street sellers.

  • Haggle Gently: Prices at street stalls are higher because of the festival season; gentle haggling will yield amazing discounts on jewellery, kurtis, and footwear.

  • Cash, Not Credit: Although big saree showrooms accept credit cards and UPI payments, it is important to have enough cash on hand when visiting street hawkers.

    • Conclusion

    Durga Puja shopping at Hatibagan is an age-old cultural custom of Kolkata. Be it heritage saree stores, bustling streets, or the abundance of food varieties, shopping at Hatibagan guarantees that you dress up to the fullest with ethnicity this Durga Puja.

    Image credits: Instagram

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