Once a paradise of vintage goods, Pune’s Juna Bazaar giving way to cheap electronics, plastic homeware

Ashfaq Nazaruddin Munshi, whose family has run an iconic antique shop in Juna Bazaar for over 70 years, feels the shift deeply. “My father dealt with royal families, collecting rare coins, Patek Philippe watches, and paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. Today, we still hold our ground, but the crowd around us has changed. People are more interested in quick bargains than rare finds,” he says.

Munshi’s shop remains an anchor of tradition in a changing market, with pieces valued at over ₹1 crore, but he admits that the footfall of genuine antique seekers has declined. The market, once filled with history hunters, is now equally frequented by customers seeking cheap mobile accessories or spare electronic parts.

The once-whispered tales of rare British India coins, Peshwa-era relics, and vintage Rolex watches are now competing with the calls of hawkers offering cheap electronics, plastic homeware, and second-hand gym equipment. (Express Photo)

Veteran vendor Ismail Bhai of Royal Antique, who has been part of the bazaar for over 30 years, echoes similar concerns. “Earlier, customers would come searching for old clocks, brass utensils, or coins. Now, they mostly ask for cables, batteries, and secondhand appliances. Antiques are becoming an afterthought,” Bhai says.

The thrill of discovering a piece of history is fading, replaced by the clamour of quick sales and everyday bargains. Ravi, a passionate coin collector for over two decades, laments this evolution. “I used to spend entire afternoons combing through stalls, uncovering British-era coins. Now, I have to sift through piles of cheap plastic goods before I find anything worthwhile,” he says.

Yet, amid the fading charm, rare discoveries still emerge for the patient and the persistent. Last year, Ravi stumbled upon an 18th-century Maratha coin hidden beneath a pile of old hardware. “That rush I felt in that moment reminded me why I keep coming back,” he said. It is these rare moments of serendipity that continue to breathe life into the bazaar for true enthusiasts.

The influx of local vendors, while injecting affordability and variety into Juna Bazaar, has also diluted its original essence. Collectors often find themselves outnumbered by casual shoppers. The seasoned shopkeepers who built Juna Bazaar into a treasure trove of history feel their legacy slipping away.

The thrill of discovering a piece of history is fading, replaced by the clamour of quick sales and everyday bargains. (Express Photo)

But hope is not entirely lost. Some antique dealers are banding together to organise occasional heritage exhibitions within the market, hoping to reignite public interest in Pune’s past. “We want people to see the value in these pieces again,” Munshi remarks.

Juna Bazaar continues to pulsate with life. It is still very much a part of Pune’s identity, but it is changing. What was once a place to touch the past is becoming a place to shop for the present.

For those who remember its antique glory, Juna Bazaar is more than just a market; it is a piece of Pune’s soul. But as modernity presses in, the question remains: will this iconic bazaar manage to preserve its heritage, or will the echoes of history soon be drowned out by the buzz of the contemporary marketplace?