Wholesale market with a hidden Parsi fire temple
- Khamasa Market, Bhadra
It’s all about the inside, not the outside and non-Zoroastrians are strictly prohibited from entering any space from where they can see the fire.
Temple of fire and tower of silence
What makes the Khamasa market special is the Parsi fire temple. Parsis are originally from Persia (modern day Iran). When they migrated to India centuries ago they found a welcoming place in Gujarat. Parsis follow the Zoroastrian religion, where fire is a central element. The temples are built to keep the fire burning, they’re intentionally nondescript and free of decorations: “It’s all about the inside, not the outside and non-Zoroastrians are strictly prohibited from entering any space from where they can see the fire.”
Fresh produce
Khamasa is a traditional wholesale fruit and vegetable market with a few hundred small stalls. Deviben Soni, a fruit seller who has been laying out her goods for years says: “This is the best place in town to buy fresh vegetables, fruits from farms at extremely competitive prices!