Fancy some Rakia with some pork, then perhaps the Arporanight market could be the place to be in. Now into its twelfth year, the marketheld between the last week of December and mid-April has evolved into anoperation that involves over 500 stalls and 200 volunteers who work to ensurethat everything moves smoothly.
The 500 plus stall market is quite a money spinner and ifdepartment sleuths are to be believed, the property pays over Rs 20 crore intaxes alone. “Everyone in Saturday Night Market pays taxes and everyone payssubstantially”, confirms Commercial Tax Department’s Mapusa Ward. Goa’s biggestNight Market that pays taxes for just two quarters of its existence in afinancial year could be a property worth Rs. 500 crore plus. The approximatequarterly turnover could be pegged at Rs 200 crore.
Positioned as the world’s local market, vendors sellingtrinkets, Kashmiri carpets, spices sit alongside people dishing outBulgariancuisine. In addition bags of various styles and materials are available for thefashion conscious. Alex Braganza, in charge of publicity of the market said“This market is an opportunity for people from different parts of the world tocome here and enjoy the great atmosphere.
They can try great food or perhaps have a drink and yeslisten to some great music.” With approximately 60 percent of the stalls beingset up by Indians and the rest by expatriates, there is an even mix in thenumber of people visiting the market every Saturday.
It is estimated that approximately 20,000 people visit themarket every week. Visitors are not charged any entrance fee, but the stallsowners have to pay Rs. 1000 every week as rental charges.
Apart from commerce, culture is a vital part of theexperience with Spanish musicians who jam or perform sets to Indian classicalmusicians generally tripping their blues away. They all congregate to exchangeideas or make music. For some of the stall owners, it is an opportunity toconduct test marketing. Joslyn Pereira, found the market an excellent place topresent trinkets, jewelry to the Indian audience.
She said” Let me tell you, after sitting here, I kind ofunderstand what the Indian buyer will buy in the different cities. It is veryinteresting and yes I am getting great feedback”.
For Morgane, a French national who retails ethnic jewels insilver created by the Karen tribe originally from Burma now exiled in Thailand,the Indian consumer “keeps trying to bring the price down, but then they alsobuy the most”.
Asked what changes they would like to make in the future,Alex said they were listening to feedback intently and if anything interestingcame up they would certainly incorporate it.
