The Sunday Bazaar is Bengaluru's ultimate thrifting hotspot, say Maahir Mohiuddin

Time of India

16 hours ago

One sunny Sunday morning, actor
Maahir Mohiuddin
traded the sets for the dusty, vibrant lanes of Bengaluru's historic Sunday Bazaar. Navigating the crowded bylanes of Chikpete at 7 am, Maahir embarked on a treasure hunt through piles of forgotten artefacts and unexpected knick-knacks to see what hidden gems one of the city's oldest markets had to offer.
Years ago, it was at this bazaar that he found an HMT Sagar mechanical hand-winding watch, one which had long gone out of production. 'My watches, my clothes – I find them all here. I'd say 70 per cent of my wardrobe is thrifted, and this bazaar is, hands down, one of my top places to discover those perfect finds,' he tells us.
'It's like they woke up and chose shopping'
At Bengaluru's Sunday Bazaar, vendors start laying out their wares as early as 3 am.
You can find practically anything here: clothes, footwear, jewellery, gardening and gym equipment, electronics, and hardware. This market, also known as Bengaluru's 'chor bazaar', is also where you might stumble upon stolen goods. As dawn breaks, Bengaluru's youth flood the narrow alleyways, grabbing an early morning coffee and breakfast before diving into some market haggling.
'People coming here at 7 am to buy clothes never fail to fascinate me.
It's like, they woke up and chose shopping!' Maahir laughs.
'This is one of my favourite spots for those vintage finds'
Vintage is in right now — and this is where you can find it if you have a good eye. 'For me, nothing beats finding something vintage here. This is Bengaluru's ultimate thrifting hotspot, and as someone who thrifts, this place is one of my favourites. We need to explore these spots more. Thrifting isn't just cool, it's incredibly sustainable.
Everyone should embrace it.' 'Thrifting is booming, and people are flocking here for antiques to resell online at quadruple the price,' Maahir notes.
'Vendors have also become more discerning. Five years ago, you could haggle an HMT winding watch down to ₹200, but today, they're well aware of its worth.'
'Chances are these items won't function, but it's a bonus if they do'
Maahir pauses at a corner where a cot lay spread on the ground, covered with an array of cassette players, bulky old recorders, scuffed record players, and stacks of well-worn vinyl.
Maahir's gaze lands on a vintage vinyl record of Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. This particular find wasn't merely the songs; it featured the actual dialogue from the movie. 'Back in the day,' Maahir muses, holding the relic carefully in his hands, 'people would listen to these dialogues, get hooked, and then absolutely have to see the film.
' Of course, buying wares at the Sunday Bazaar is a gamble. While you might unearth antique table clocks—from Swiss makers to Indian household regulars—purchasing comes with a risk.
You could get lucky, or you might end up with an irreparable watch due to mould. 'Pieces like the antique cameras, typewriters and telephones, available in plenty at the bazaar, often work as great showpieces once cleaned. Chances are they won't function, but it's a bonus if they do,' says Maahir.
'The trick to the Sunday Bazaar? Always show up with a blank slate'
'Every time you come here, it's interesting. When I started in theatre, helping out backstage, this very market was my hunting ground for props – things like old telephones or antique cameras, and of course, costumes. I quickly learned that if you come looking for something specific, you'll leave empty-handed. But come with a blank slate, and you'll find something crazy,' says Maahir, as he tries on an aqua-coloured jacket, a bargain find from a heap of garments, each priced between ₹50 and ₹200.
What you can find at the Sunday Bazaar:
l New and used clothing, shoes, bags, and jewellery
l Old radios, cassette players, record players, and other gadgets
l Vintage cameras, typewriters, old phones, vinyl records, clocks, and unique memorabilia
l Kitchenware, tools, furniture, and decorative items
l Sports gear, spare parts, and all sorts of unexpected finds
A WORD TO THE WISE
Keep your belongings close. A long-running joke is that if you lose something at the Sunday Bazaar, you might just be able to buy it back here the following week!
Tips for shoppers:
l Go early. The best finds often appear as early as 3 am, but a 7 am start is still prime time to beat the crowds
l Don't look for anything specific; you'll find more treasures if you're open to surprises
l Haggling is expected and encouraged
l Always inspect electronics or watches for damage before buying
l Keep your wallet, phone, and other belongings secure and close to your body
l Carry cash. Many vendors operate on a cash-only basis