There is something magical about weekly markets. Across the country, these mostly open-air markets are held in one specific area on a particular day of the week. Here, you get all kinds of products — from fresh vegetables and pickles in plastic packets to clothes and utensils. The deadly virus that has brought life to a standstill in many parts of India has felled these markets, too. In most big cities, the haats, as they are known, have been suspended. In Assam, the saptahik bazaar — or weekly market — has also been called off, though small vegetable markets continue to attract customers.

The saptahik bazaar plays an important role in sustaining the local economy and in fostering the relationship between the economy and society. The needs of the people are fulfilled locally, and sellers earn their livelihood by catering to these demands.

Some of these markets also function as a wholesale outlet or a small mandi . Many of the produce are organic, which is why there is a great demand for vegetables and fruits. People from urban or semi-urban areas are eager to buy village products, while villagers look out for what the urban areas have to offer. For locally produced goods, weekly markets are the gateway to the larger marketing network.

Most of these markets in Assam are in the rural or semi-urban areas. People from surrounding villages sell their products, as do traders from outside the local area. Some of these markets sell purely tribal products, though most have a mix of both tribal and non-tribal offerings. These markets also serve as a link between people from rural and urban Assam.

The people of Assam tend to hold on to tradition — and the weekly haats are repositories of traditional art and craft. You get farming equipment, fishing accessories or old-style furniture. The markets play a significant role in the economy of the region. It is a tax collection system for the local authority. For many small vendors, it is a lifeline. And for every visitor, it is a delightful mélange of colour and sound.

Partha Pratim Sharma

Weaves of tradition: Bamboo baskets are still widely used in Assam for household work

Not for the fainthearted: Silkworms, a delicacy among many tribes in the region, on sale in Guwahati’s Sunday market

A ladle of heaven: Liquid jaggery, more popular than the solid variety among the people of Assam, at the Tuesday market in Tangla town

Urban touch: Printed weaves, a symbol of the mechanised textile industry, also have takers at the weekly markets

Season’s catch: Small nets, used for capturing fish from flooded ponds and fields during monsoon, on sale at Dolong Para market

Cutting edge: Farming and construction tools on sale at the Thursday market in Gorubandha, Sonitpur

Meat market: Pork, one of the staples of Bodo cuisine, is available round the year at the bi-weekly bazaar at Ramhori

Wild at heart: Bamboo shoots and other forest produce at the Friday market in Silveta, Karbi Anglong

Take-away bites: Sweets and savouries sold in every weekly market make for tasty gifts for people back home

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Organic good: Greens, limes, garlic and fish — ingredients for a fish curry — from a weekly market
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