Tanti Bazar was the place of my jewelry making in the beginning. Moving around the country to see the artisans’ work–getting the expected product after a long exercise with ‘sakras’–lunch of ‘dal-bhat’–‘cha-beguni’, happiness-sadness–together makes the feeling of my jewelry.

Much later through that journey, I discovered that Tanti Bazar is the only place in Dhaka that brings peace in my mind, whenever I have been there. I don’t know how the impression of an overcrowded, noisy, narrow alley expresses its different meaning to me? That is an amazing place with the scent of incense, sandalwood, and agarbattis crafted piles of gold jewelries every day in some small, damp, and dark rooms.

It takes hours, ‘sakras’ etching flowers with small pieces of gold or silver, or adding red and blue enamel to their creations. Seeing the curiosity and excitement in my eyes, Kanti da said with a smile, “After crafting a 20-bhori (a bhori = 11.66 grams) traditional jewelry set, one evening, I found myself without even enough change for bus fare. It’s not that fun as it seems, sister.”

So, what is Sakrar’s Tanti Bazar like?

Do we, in our encounters, overlook many other lives?

Standing in this life, Sakrar’s Tanti Bazar is just a small attempt to glimpse into that other life.

–Tahmina Shaily

Jewelry artist, entrepreneur, and trainer