We noticed a rather rare picture while at Old Goa recently. Among the thousands of tourists, who visit the place, there was a chubby little baby being carried in a hand-held craddle by the father.

 

The Flea Market in Anjuna

At the Fleamarket in Anjuna all that one sees nowadays are crowds and more crowds, with four-, three- and two-wheelers emptying a multitude at Sorantto, where the 'market has been flourishing and growing by the year. Of course, one does not find the foreigners or 'hippies' selling their unwanted items, as was done a few years ago.

Nowadays, the flea market is full of Rajasthani clothing and Kashmiri curios being sold all over the place. There seems to be no end to the number of stalls being put up. But the Goan content among the hawkers is mere a trickle, selling chai-bhaji, cold-drinks and cigarettes.

Quite often one finds the foreigners selling local things. Of course, there are people selling colourful T-shirts and a few sun-tanned books, cassettes and CDs. There are the eats stalls too selling burgers and the like. Indian drums, flutes and other musical instruments are being sold. There could be some massalas, snuff and other such items for sale.

Among the crowds, pouring in relentlessly on Wednesdays, one more often than not now sees a lot of hep Indian crowd. The shenai-playing man or boy comes along with his colourfully draped bull. There also comes a Maharashtrian woman with a large tik'ka on her forehead and a weird hairdo. Most stall owners believe that the stall does good business if she touches it. So they drop a coin or rupee in her hand when she comes along with her perpetual grin.

Down at the water-front there are motor-boats taking the visitors for a sea-ride. There may be not much to buy at the Anjuna flea market but as a crowd-puller it definitely it's a big draw.

KONKANI-ENGLISH DICTIONARY Collect the series. Within a short period you will have a substantial Konkani-English Dictionary in the Roman script.