‘Don’t click my picture. I don’t look nice’, she told me, pointing to her toothless mouth before covering her face with her hand. ‘Click my flowers instead, they are the beautiful ones’.
I had asked the lady running a flower stall permission to click her along with her flowers, and that was her answer. I refused her suggestion, asked her to pose with her glass of tea covering her mouth and clicked her, with her flowers.
It was 5:30 am, though seeing the hustle and bustle at this early morning hour you wouldn’t believe that!
Welcome to the wholesale and bustling Flower Market of Chennai, in Koyembedu. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, watch your step and prepare to jostle your way through the crowd.
Don’t let the crowded, and terribly filthy, entrance of the market deter you. Dodge cows, dogs, men with their buys mounted on their head rushing by, and walk in bravely. Before you know it you are surrounded by gorgeous flowers!
Florists, shopkeepers and regulars make their way here as the sun rises over the city, to take their pick of the freshest flowers in the city.
We did attract a lot of curious glances as we made our way through the market, me asking for permission to click pictures and The Husband translating my request in Tamil. The shop owners gave it easily, with a shrug. Some curious ones even asked what the pictures were for, and one impressed me when he said he knew what Blogging , and a Blog, was.
Pretty flowers in varied hues everywhere make you overlook the filth. Mind your step though, as the crushed flowers and leaves on the ground make it slippery.
You could buy a small amount of flowers or buy them by the kilo. Since this is a wholesale market, the flowers here are sold by weight, and at a rate that is much cheaper than you can imagine. It’s almost a steal!
Garlands, big, small and even huge, can be bought here too. Wedding Garlands seemed to be a speciality, as were the ones used to felicitate dignitaries. 2 enormous ones were being strung, with ribbons of 2 opposing political party colours, reminding us that elections are just around the corner.
A day at the Flower Market starts as early as 4 am. It is a wonder to see the people work there with Zen like calmness, between all the noise and chaos. A visit here is not only a wonderful photographic opportunity but a lesson in perseverance and hard work.
Written for the theme
My A to Z of Chennai: The City Viewed Through An Outsiders Eye
Flowers have a lot of meaning in South Indians life and I think that bit of jostling for such visual delights was worth it. Again a wonderful choice for F
Such gorgeous colorful flowers. I am sure there must be a riot of fragrances too.
I have never been to a wholesale flower market. Must visit one sometimes soon!
Great captures, Mayuri!
I have been there once and that is a delight to watch . And seriously we get it so cheap as compared to when it reaches the market.
Wow, such beautiful flowers and clicks. Happy GudiPadwa, you made my day with the sight of such flowers.
Brilliant post. Such happy pictures. Flowers of every color and kind. Cheers to week 1
I have heard about Koyembadu but never visited the flower market. The pictures of colorful flowers are soothing to the sore eyes after a week of A2Z. Beautiful post.
Colors!!! Was waiting to see what is all about the “Prettiest post”. You never failed to surprise again.
Not surprised about the man responding +ve about the blogging etc. And you know what? There are more graduates in here than one can think off.
Wow…. Beauty. You are really showing the unseen side of chennai.
This was beautiful. Flower markets everywhere are amazing and you got some lovely captures. Those pink roses are to die for.
These are lovely pics… A beautiful post overall.
A treat to eyes but I can also smell the beauties
The flowers are lovely, welcoming the festive season:)
Brilliant post
‘Poo market’ looks amazing! And the clicks look amazing as well!! 🙂
I’m glad you clicked the lady with her flowers too, M. Such a thoughtful gesture it was. 🙂
I don’t know (and neither want to find out) which pictures are my favourite. The colours are beautiful and so are your words that go with them. I had a virtual walk through the market with you. These pictures reminded me of the Dadar flower market. All this bustle at 5:30 in the morning is indeed a lesson in hard work. Really appreciate the efforts you put into it. Hats off!
The flower market looks beautiful! You’ve captured it so well! I think the visit to the flower market at that hour was worth it.
I was walking in the Madivala market today and I was admiring the beautiful flowers that were kept for sale. Too bad I didn’t click any pictures.
Flowers!! Such a lovely flowery post. I love the flowers. In Andhra summers women of all ages adorn their hair with Jasmine strings and the orange kankamrallu. Have you heard of the strong scented Sampangi puvvu? It is called magnolia I guess. I love the mallepuvvu or Jasmine the best. They make summers bearable.
I have visited the Koyembedu flower market Mayuri and the colourful flowers never fail to dazzle. It is a really lovely sight. Flowers for Kerala come from Koyambedu but by the time they reach Kerala, they usually lose their freshness.
Wow, 4 am. Really. And, the pics are really good.
Love that flower market! Beautiful photos, Mayuri! I love how busy they are so early in the morning. They work so hard and are generally so friendly. We always shopped there for any big functions or get-togethers at home. Your posts are making me so nostalgic! Thank you for the lovely presentation!
Love the colours. I love flowers. Your experience reminds me of Dadar phool market we visit every year for Ganpati and Navratri. At 4 am there is complete chaos but so many varieties that you can have enough of it.
Beautiful captures, good to know about this market…so much colorful.
What a beautiful way to start the day!
I have a question for you, do you find it difficult to move around the city if you don’t speak Tamil?
Yes, Noor. Knowing Tamil in Chennai is a must. If you don’t speak or understand it, you better be with someone who does. Luckily,my husband speaks Tamil fluently.
Wonderful, flowers bring joy in life like their pretty fragrance. This post reminds me of my first visit to Dadar flower market, almost the same situation and commotion here too at early morning hours. City of Chennai ab humko jamm gayi.
I went through your post twice just to admire the beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing this post
This is one thing I love South India. The vibrant flowers and their fragrance. Many a times, I used to buy flowers for decorating my home and temple while returning from office in the evening during Bangalore stay. Great pics Mayuri
You have captured the various hues of the flowers and I can sense the fragrances of the rose petals. Yesterday most of the street in mumbai were a mini flower-market selling marigolds for Ugaadi.
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This is the beautiful post I have read in a while. Lovely pictures and this reminded me of KR flower market in Bangalore. After reading your post, I want to visit the market.
Such a wonderful post!! Loved it
Amused, the day there starts so early as 4am! But forgetting the chaos and dogs and cows, these colourful flowers make this market amazing !
My God! you went to the flower wholesale market just to get pics for this post? :O
Oh! I love fresh flowers! It would be almost impossible to drag me out of this market! 😛
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Yes, Chicky! I did go specially to get the pics:)
I love flowers but hardly ever go to flower markets to buy flowers. Have been to a beautiful one with my mil in Hyderabad though. Wish they would be cleaner, na. Loved the pictures.
I love your pictures capturing the people as well as the flowers.
I never visited such flower market. Your pictures in post are so beautiful, flowers do have magical power.
Wow, amazing that you made it to visit that place. We have been planning for a while. That one and the Metro Monitoring station in Koyambedu.