shopping

In Pictures: A Calcuttan on a weekend shopping spree at Santiniketan's Sonajhuri Haat

Dokra jewellery, artsy saris to ‘Bhooter Raja’ totes — you will be spoilt for choice for sure

By Pooja Mitra | Published 01.02.23, 06:03 PM

When in Santiniketan, missing out on Sonajhuri Haat is impossible. Those few hours of unabridged retail therapy are invigorating like no other. From artistic home decor items to saris, ‘dohar’ to jewellery, ‘pithe’ to ‘chop’ — you can shop to your heart’s content and with pocket-friendly budget

All photos by Pooja Mitra

One can also find ‘bahurupis’ showcasing a dying art at the ‘haat’. Visitors take photos with them as they perform

One of the most popular attractions of the ‘haat’ is the tribal dance. You can see men and women dancing to the beats of musical instruments. If you want to shake a leg with them, the warm and hospitable bunch happily oblige

Wall plates with tribal motifs, in ‘Madhubani’ style, and more will catch your eye as you stroll by the stalls stationed on the large open-air premises of Sonajhuri

When in Santiniketan, is it even possible to not have artworks on Rabindranath Tagore? Postcards, copper wire models, bags to saris with Rabindrasangeet embroidery or paintings — you name it, you get it

Be it ‘kanthastitch' or ‘khesh’ saris, silks, ‘matka’, ‘batik’ saris with applique work, embroidery or hand-painted motifs, Sonajhuri Haat spoils sari lovers like no other

Dokra home decor items and jewellery are a rage too and packing is never a headache, as the retailers wrap them in thick papers for you to carry back home

Accessories made out of cloth, conch shells, bamboo, clay and jute make it very hard to restrain oneself from buying

When at the 'haat', don’t miss out on the wide variety of bags on offer. The options include totes with ‘Sahaj Path’, ‘Bhooter Raja’ and other cool graphics, hand-embroidered ‘kantha’ sling bags, ‘jholas’ and more

You can get customised neckpieces and earrings too from the artisans visiting the 'haat'

Enjoy the rustling of leaves and the breeze, soak in the hustle and bustle of the marketplace — those few hours at the Sonajhuri Haat can make your Santiniketan experience a wholesome one

Tags: shopping Sonajhuri Haat Santiniketan Weekend Getaway travel Sonajhuri-Khoai