Alluring roadside shopping; along highways leading to Hyderabad.

A few kilometres away from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad; along roads leading to them, you would find here and there villagers selling their produce. It could be a variety of fresh seasonal vegetables, fruits and other items like honey, maize, groundnuts and earthenware. Sometimes you may also come across a Weekly Shandy - locally called Santha. It is virtually; a villagers' shopping mall, spread along a highway or a ground close to it. Once in a week Shandy / Santha is held in several places of a District. Almost every need of theirs is met here. Food grains, vegetables, fruits, spices, utensils, clothes, clothing, fish, poultry and cattle are sold here. You will also find some quacks selling medicines. Hard bargaining is done and items are procured at reasonable prices.   

While returning back to the city, when we come across such roadside shops or a Shandy, we are attracted to such sales and procure whatever we can. The freshness of the vegetables and the low prices astonish us. We are not alone in this! You would find many speeding cars suddenly stopping by these shops. 

The above photographs are from a Weekly Sunday Shandy, near Air Force Academy, Dundigal, 25 km. from Secunderabad.