Chandni Chowk

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A typically congested scene along Chawri Bazar in the Chandni Chowk area, March 2006.

Chandni Chowk, Delhi, 1863-67.

Gali Parathi Wali in chandni chowk is known for its parathas, Dec 2006.

It has been suggested that Gali paranthe walee be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Chandni Chowk (Hindi: चाँदनी चौक, Punjabi:ਚਾਂਦਨੀ ਚੌਂਕ, Urdu: چاندنی چوک) meaning Moonlit Avenue, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in central north Delhi, India.

1 History
2 Overview
3 Popular Culture
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

Chandni Chowk was established in 1650 AD, built along with the Red Fort of Delhi by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan and designed by her daughter Jahanara Begum Sahib, who also made significant contribution in the landscaping of his new capital of Shahjahanabad. It is said that moonlight reflecting on its canal, earned it its name, 'Chandni Chowk' or the 'Moonlit Avenue' ^[1].

[edit] Overview

The area lies in the historically important Shahjahanabad, between the Lal Qila (The Red Fort) and Fatehpuri Masjid. With the most famous mosque of Delhi Jama Masjid (Delhi) in the vicinity, along with Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Jain Mandir and a lot of small temples, the place witnesses a genuine cultural harmony.

Chandni Chowk's speciality is the variety of its markets and their Indian-ness. From authentic Indian food, delicacies and sweets of more than 1000 kinds, to sarees with Chikan, zaree work. There are lots of narrow lanes with many shops selling books, clothing, shoes and leather goods, electronic and consumer goods and what not. The area, even more so than the rest of the city, is congested. This is also a good area for window shopping. It is the location of the original Haldiram's. A particular local delicacy are the jalebis, which are fried in pure ghee (clarified butter).

Among the famous mosques in Chandni Chowk are Jama Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid and Sunahari Masjid (literally Golden Mosque). It was from here that Persian emperor Nadir Shah watched the plunder of Delhi in 1739 when more than 30,000 people were killed.

[edit] Popular Culture

Chandni Chowk was featured in the 2001 Bollywood film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham where the leading lady Anjali (Kajol) and her sister Pooja (Kareena Kapoor) lived. Though portrayed as a neighborhood populated by a lower-class population, Chandni Chowk is shown to be a rich, cultural hub.

A rhyming Indian tongue twister in the film goes as follows:

चंदू के चाचा ने

चंदू की चाची को

चाँदनी चौक में

चाँदनी रात में

चाँदी के चम्मच से

चटनी चटाई

Transliteration follows,

Chandu ke chacha ne

Chandu ki chachi ko

Chandni Chowk mein

Chandni raat mein

Chaandi ke chamach se

Chatni chatayi

The tongue twister uses the multiple uses of the word Chandni (a girl's name, moonlit, silver) for poetic effect. This poem has अनुप्रास alankar (anupraas alankar) (repetition of similar sound, here ch) and यमक (yamak) अलंकार (alankar) (use of the same word in different places for generating different meanings).

Literal translation:

Chandu's uncle,

To Chandu's aunt,

In Chandni Chowk,

On a moonlit night,

With a silver spoon,

Fed chutney.

One of the main characters, Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) is identified when he says the tongue-twister (almost) correctly.