BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

MARKET PLACES

With increasing demand for a variety of goods resulting from the development of transport, the retail shops have reached faraway places. This has, however, not led to the disappearance of weekly markets. Weekly markets are held at about[According to the information supplied by the Tahsildars in the district.] 79 places in the district. Of these by far the most important are the markets at Morshi and Rajura Bazar in Morshi tahsil and at Daryapur with weekly sales estimated to range between 1½ to 2 lakhs of rupees. The commodities sold are grain, cloth, groceries, cattle, timber, etc. Next come the markets at Warud and Banosa with weekly aggregate sales of about Rs. 75,000 each. Shendurjana and Nerpingalai with a weekly turnover of Rs. 49,700 and Rs. 20,050 respectively follow next. Other places in the order of importance are the Anjansinghi, Kurha, Dharni, Yeoda, Karatkhed and Pimplod. The remaining bazars (25 in Amravati; 16 in Achalpur and 4 in Chikhaldara tahsils) are of only local importance with a weekly sale ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,000. The markets at Daryapur, Banosa and Kurha owe their importance mainly to the net-work of district roads which makes possible the assembling of the agricultural produce from the outlying fertile areas.

Every village, where a bazar is held, has its separate market place. In municipal towns and in the areas under the Zilla Parishad the weekly markets are generally regulated. The local authorities collect cesses and stall fees from the traders and provide, in turn, certain facilities for the upkeep of the bazar including the arrangement of water-supply, provision of otas for stocking goods and so on. With all this, the weekly markets offer a lively sight. Besides the sale and purchase of various goods of daily use, the entertainment corner with merry-go-rounds and magic shows, music and dance performances by some local troupes and eatables and other refreshments constitute an added attraction.

Periodical markets are held at the following towns and villages in Amravati district:-

In the past, fairs served the purpose of retail trading., the retail shops then being mainly located at the urban centres in the district. Now with the facilities of easy transport even the small villages are served by retail shaps. The purchase of goods of daily use at the time of the fair is not, therefore, so much a necessity. The fairs thus, do not attract large gatherings, as they did in the past. However, taking a holiday to honour the deity and to bargain at the fair is still common among the rural folks, In areas, where the system of communications is still in its infancy, fairs even today play an important part. Thus there are fairs held at Sawanga Vithoba, Wadnor Gangal, Ner pingalai, Riddhpur, Bahiram and Uparai. They still draw large crowd and involve a large turnover in goods. However, some have fallen into insignificance and have been discontinued. Others at Guikhed. Talegaon Dashasar, etc., have in time gained much in importance.

At almost all the places with a shrine or a tomb, scores of persons assemble every year on some particular day to honour the deity or persons. There are twenty-four such places where fairs are held. Fairs at Kaundinyapur, Salbardi, Bahiram and Amla are very important and draw a large gathering from the adjacent districts. The estimated turnover at these fairs amounts to Rs. 2,00,000. Next in order of importance are the fairs at Talegaon Dashasar. Guikhed, Sawanga Vithoba, Nerpingalai, Bhiltek. Riddhpur and Pimplod. The total turnover at these places ranges between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 75,000. The commodities traded are grain, earthen and metal pots, cloth, ready-made clothes, timber, cattle, imitation jewellery and other goods of daily use. At very small fairs, the total turnover of trade hardly exceeds Rs. 5,000.

These fairs are usually attended by pedlars, petty shop-keepers and villagers from the neighbouring areas. Wholesale traders generally do not attend them. Among the salesmen are included the farmers, gardeners, grocers, sweetmeat makers, weavers, tailors, etc. Transactions at all the fairs are done on cash basis and rarely on barter. Large fairs are generally managed by the local authorities which collect pilgrim taxes and in turn make arrangements for water-supply, layout of accommodation for visitors and merchants, etc.

TABLE No. 22

FAIRS IN AMRAVATI DISTRICT

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