Same family, same shop, five generations: the secret behind Patna’s Marufganj market

Sant Golwara, owner of a 150-year-old kirana shop and patron of the Marufganj Kirana Traders Association, said most businesses in the locality have remained within the same families for four or five generations. Marufganj, he said, functions as a central mandi for rice, wheat, maize, pulses, spices, dry fruits and edible oils, while nearby Mansoorganj continues to serve as another historic grain market.

Located in the heart of Old Patna City, Marufganj is one of eastern India’s oldest and largest wholesale grocery markets, and for nearly four centuries has remained the commercial heartbeat of Bihar’s food trade. The narrow lanes winding through Chowk, Shikarpur and Marufganj still preserve the character of an old trading town, lined with family-run establishments that have survived for generations.

Neighbouring markets such as Mansoorganj, Maharajganj and Alamganj have also developed into important commercial centres, attracting traders from across Bihar and neighbouring states, together shaping the identity of Patna City as one of eastern India’s most vibrant wholesale trading districts.

Golwara said Marufganj has more than 900 wholesale shops spread across over three sq km, with 35 bank branches serving the trading community, and traders believe daily transactions exceed Rs 200 crore, rising sharply during festivals and the marriage season.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by Sita Ram