Antiques, cultural memorabilia, watches that tick in borrowed time, vinyl records that smell of the past, bangles in their multicoloured glory, mirrors, perfume bottles, and pieces of vintage magic; chor bazaars (literally translated to ‘thieves’ markets’ but mean flea markets) of India are like a poetry of lost and found items, each waiting to make its way into its new home.

And these time-tested bazaarshave documented decades of social change; here’s a glimpse at some of the most famous ones.

My early attraction to Chandni Chowk in Delhi borrows heavily from my binge sessions of Bollywood movies. Romanticised by films, this market, one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest, dates back to the 17th century, to the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The magic of this market lies in its narrow bylanes lined with spices, textiles, jewellery, traditional shops, wholesale traders, and small family-run businesses that have lived here for generations.

Having gotten its name from a mispronunciation of shor bazaar (noisy market), the Chor Bazaar of Mumbai is........

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