Shree Nakoda Beirva Sabji Bhandar

Being in the Sheoganj Sabji Mandi means our day starts when most people are still fast asleep. We get to the Shree Nakoda Beirva Sabji Bhandar long before the sun even thinks about coming up. It’s usually cold and a bit damp in the market during those early hours. We spend a lot of time hauling wooden crates filled with tomatoes, potatoes, and whatever else is in season. The floor of the mandi is always a bit slippery and covered in stray leaves. We have to set up our piles of vegetables so they look okay, but we don't spend too much time on it because the crowd comes in fast. People are always haggling over the price of cauliflower or asking if the chilies are spicy enough. It’s loud, with everyone shouting their prices and the sounds of trucks backing up into the loading bays. Our hands stay stained green or brown most of the day from handling the produce. By midday, things start to quiet down and we spend time clearing away the wilted leaves and empty sacks. The smell of the market is a mix of fresh coriander and earth, which stays on your clothes long after you leave. We’ve been at this spot for a while, and you get used to the noise and the rush of the morning trade. It’s hard on the back, but seeing the stalls empty by the afternoon feels like a good day’s work.