Mangalbare in Dharan keeps weekly market alive

By Nisha Rai,Dharan, Sept. 13: The practice of holding weekly markets has almost ceased in many places of the country. However, in Mangalbare of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, a market has been held twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays for the last 59 years.

The weekly market of Mangalbare is still famous in Dharan despite the increasing obsession with online shopping system. Most of the locals visit the market to buy goods.

Subh Rai of Ward-12 of Dharan said that he always reached the Mangalbare market twice a week to buy vegetables. "Vegetables are easily found in nearby shops of my settlement, many shops provide even online delivery. However, I prefer to buy them from market because here I can buy local and organic vegetables which are grown in the hills and are healthy. Although my home is some distance away, I always arrive here.”

Organic and seasonal vegetables including unrefined turmeric powder, ginger, and red cherry pepper chilli are sold in the market which are more healthy than the vegetables found in other places, said Rai.

Likewise, Rama Limbu of Ward-15 said that vegetables grown in the hill area are free from chemicals, beneficial to health, and taste good as well. “Organic vegetables are not easily rotten, that is the reason I prefer to buy them from this market,” she said.

A big crowd of people from across the district throngs Mangalbare to buy fresh vegetables and other goods.

According to Punam Rai, a farmer from Ahale of neighbouring district Dhankuta, farmers of Ahale also bring their home-grown green vegetables including ginger, garlic, potatoes, and turmeric (powder) to the market to sell. 

Rai said she used only compost festilisers in the vegetables, and did not use pesticides. She recalled her past days where she used to come to Dharan with her father to sell vegetables.

Similarly, Mausam Rai, a farmer from Dhankuta also reaches the market to sell vegetables. Although he does not grow vegetables himself, he buys them from other farmers and brings them to Managlabare to sell.

Many farmers from nearby districts also reach Mangalbare to sell the vegetables including other stuffs.

"The older the market, the more popular it has become,” said Janak Rishi Rai who is a journalist and a resident of Ward-11 of Dharan. He recalls his old days when he was a kid and used to come with his parents to buy essentials.

Arun Katwal, Chairperson of Area Development Committee of Ward-11, of Dharan, who also remained a ward member during the Panchayat System, said that the practice of organizing the weekly market commenced in 1965. As the market place was near the British Camp, it was also known as British Bazar.

The weekly market is also a source of income for many farmers of neighbouring districts. While many stuffs are brought in Dharan, farmers also take necessary stuffs from here.

Most of the vegetables sold in the market are local products which helps in maintaining the popularity of the market. "Local products including seasonal vegetables grown by our local farmers are the main highlight of this market," said Katwal.

Advocate Dipak Kumar Budhathoki stated that these days vegetables are easily available, even in inaccessible rural areas. However, it is beneficial to consume organic vegetables for health. In the past, weekly market was a site of buying essential materials for many people residing at rural settlements who had no easy access to shops.

"The weekly market is also the meeting point for rural and urban residents, and they are elated to consume organic and healthy foods,” said Budhathoki.