Tibetans have again dropped anchor in Jamshedpur to make brisk business by selling woollen garments.
The popular Tibet Market, inaugurated by local thana OC Srinivas at Golmuri Circus grounds on Wednesday, will run till January next year.
From trendy pullovers, cardigans, sweat shirts and jackets to stoles, kurtis and blankets — you name it and they have it. There are over 200 stalls at the market, which spreads out in the city every winter.
“This year, we are late in setting up the market. Durga Puja was late and we took some time to put infrastructure in place. Tibetans have been making good profits over the years, so it is mandatory that we set up a market here. Visitors will get to buy a wide array of winter clothes at affordable prices,” said Tenzing Wangyal, the general secretary of Tibet Market Association.
Nearly 300 members of 90 families from various parts of India like Mysore, Dharamshala, Dehradun and Sikkim, who had migrated to the country from Tibet in 1959, have come to the steel city to set up shops. They primarily work as farmers all-year round. But, during winter, they come together and sell woollens to earn some extra bucks.
“We grow paddy and maize and other seasonal crops where we live. For woollen wear that we sell here, we buy materials from Delhi and Ludhiana,” said Wangyal.
The Tibetans first started their business in 1980 by setting up the woollen mart at Sakchi behind Jama Masjid. But, the venue was shifted to Golmuri around 10 years ago due to lack of space.
Some Tibetans said that the Sakchi fair drew more crowd than Golmuri.
“The place at Sakchi behind Jama Masjid was far better than Golmuri. It was located at the centre of the city and, hence, people from across Jamshedpur could easily visit. And, more people meant more business. This place (Golmuri Circus grounds) is at one corner of the city and so footfall is less,” said Yeshi Phuntsok, one of the leaders of Tibet Market Association.
Earlier, the market continued from October-end to February. But, now because of decreasing turnout, Tibetans wrap up the mart by January-end.
