Gajil Vendors Market

Stories

Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Gajil vendors market which was located in the city of Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, northwest Iran, and were a place for poor people who spend their lives with only 7$ a day or even less by vending. Most of these people were lived in the poor part of the city with crowded families.

The things that they had sold, were mostly old objects which were not useful anymore in the homes and stores. Everything can be found there, from rusted Nut and screw, old tire of cars, bicycle, electronic necessities, old shoes and dress to hen and rooster and other kinds of birds. Most of the villagers around Tabriz came to this place for shopping.

In the spring and rainy season when heavy hail was fallen from the sky, it was the worst day for these vendors, all their belongings became wet and they were forced to collect their belongings under the rain and they have to return home with their handcarts, without money.

After those years, Gajil's vendors and their belongings are moved from one place to another in the city of Tabriz, and their former location has changed to a modern building with the glamorous stores. But they are still struggling with poverty, and their third-hand belongings gets wet under the heavy rain.

Gajil means "crowded place" which is also the name of old part of Tabriz city. Gajil historical cemetery which was famous as "Orafaa cemetery" which was destroyed in the Pahlavi period. Golestan garden - the first park in the city of Tabriz - was built in its place. Gajil's historical entrance door with high walls and towers which was one of the nine entrance doors of Tabriz was destroyed in 1959 when Palestine Avenue was constructed by the city mayor.

 

 

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