A weekly Flea Market in the heart of rural Punjab...

When it comes to Punjab, a visit to the state is incomplete without a visit to it's hinterland which have a unique way of life not seen in other parts of the country. The state is quite prosperous, yet it's connection to the roots is deep and quite visible.

We shared some good laughs :)

Portraits of gurus of Sikhism...

Some interesting books, balls and more :)

So when I spent a few days there recently, I decided to visit a village called Bindrakh without any specific plans, except visit the famous local Gurudwara. However, as soon as we reached, I was enamoured by the local weekly market which was in full force just outside the Gurudwara. Now for those of you who do know know what a Gurdwara is, it's simply a place of worship for the Sikhs and perhaps the most famous Gurudwara of all time is the Golden Temple at Amritsar. However, Gurudwaras are not just for the sikhs, they also welcome people from all faiths to come and get a spiritual experience. I love them and visit them every time I get a chance.

halo kulcha punjab village gain rural life market

My lunch - aalo kulcha :)

Mother and son!

But on this trip, the local market was as much of a highlight as the Gurudwara itself. Now when it comes to markets, I am a sucker for them, whether it's the Sunday market of Ahmedabad or the Spices market of Zanzibar, I never miss a chance to check one out!

I didn't really buy anything at this nameless market but walked around for long (despite the scorching sun) and spoke to many shopkeepers. I guess with my long hair and big camera everyone was already curious and ever so keep to talk. Oh, and also ate our pre-lunch meal (lunch was langar in the Gurudwara) - the famous halo-kulcha! It was fresh, hot and absolutely yum :)

Here are some pictures form the market. Enjoy :)