Namaste to Bonjour: Delhi's Chandni Chowk learn foreign languages for BRICS guests

Delhi's iconic Chandni Chowk is brushing up on more than just its famous food and shopping ahead of the BRICS summit. Traders and shopkeepers in the historic market are learning basic phrases in English, French, Chinese and Japanese in the hope of speaking to foreign delegates in their own languages.Shopkeepers in the iconic Old Delhi market are stepping up cleanliness drives, stocking products they believe could appeal to international visitors and even learning basic phrases in foreign languages, including English, French, Chinese and Japanese.The traders hope delegates attending the BRICS summit will visit Chandni Chowk and experience its food, jewellery and textiles. For many shopkeepers, the event is also being seen as an opportunity to showcase the market's centuries-old commercial culture and attract more international business.TRADERS PREPARE TO WELCOME FOREIGN GUESTSChandni Chowk, one of Delhi's oldest and best-known markets, has been buzzing with activity as traders make arrangements ahead of the summit. Shopkeepers said cleanliness is one of their key priorities. Members of the trading community are also asking their staff to remain courteous and avoid using rude language while interacting with visitors.Several traders said they are learning commonly used words and greetings in foreign languages with help from their children, who study languages such as French at school. Naresh Gupta, a textile merchant, said the traders' association is focusing on cleanliness and ensuring that visitors receive a warm welcome.Gupta said hosting the BRICS summit in Delhi would enhance India's image globally. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the summit to the capital.JEWELLERS LOOK TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERSThe preparations extend to Chandni Chowk's jewellery shops, with traders introducing new designs and looking to make their stores more appealing to foreign visitors.Satyendra Jain, who said his jewellery shop has been operating in Chandni Chowk since 1924, said the market is preparing to receive international guests despite its traditional roots."I am 87 years old, and our children are now learning new languages so we can attract foreign guests," Jain said.He said the family is learning English, Japanese and Chinese and has introduced new jewellery designs with foreign visitors in mind.Jain also highlighted Chandni Chowk's character as a symbol of religious harmony, pointing to the presence of a temple, mosque, gurudwara and church in the market."We are making preparations just as one would for the birth of a child in the family, with the same level of celebration and planning," he said.Another jewellery shop owner, Rishabh Jain, said the market has long been accustomed to receiving tourists and is therefore well placed to welcome BRICS delegates.He said jewellery from Chandni Chowk is exported significantly to Middle Eastern countries, where Arabic is widely spoken, while traders are also learning French because of the popularity of jewellery in France.'FOREIGN GUESTS CAN BOOST BUSINESS'Textile traders said the BRICS summit could provide an opportunity to expand business beyond India's domestic market.Satyendra Kumar Jain, another textile merchant, said traders and their children are making efforts to learn foreign languages so they can communicate with visitors."There is great enthusiasm regarding the summit, and we hope it will boost our business," he said. "Everyone stands to benefit from this. If business grows, it benefits both us and the country."Shri Bhagwan Bansal, a Chandni Chowk merchant, said the market's textile trade already has an international reach.He said the presence of Prime Ministers and heads of state from different countries in Delhi for the BRICS summit was a matter of pride for traders.According to Bansal, Chandni Chowk is not merely a national trading hub. He said its textile business has a global footprint and that being able to communicate with international visitors in their own languages could help traders build stronger business relationships."We are learning languages relevant to these nations and teaching them to our children as well," Bansal said.SPECIAL FOOD, SWEETS FOR VISITORSFood outlets in Chandni Chowk are also preparing to showcase some of the market's best-known offerings.Ramakant Sharma, who runs a Jalebi shop, said the area was being spruced up ahead of the summit and that his shop would be ready to serve foreign visitors.Sharma said his shop is known for Jalebi and Rabdi, with the Jalebi prepared using desi ghee. He said the sweet can remain fresh for four or five days and that the shop has been operating in Chandni Chowk for 110 years.He added that he can communicate in English and hopes foreign guests will get an opportunity to sample the traditional sweet.A visitor from Rajasthan, Rakshit Raj Grover, also praised the Jalebi and said he hoped BRICS delegates would visit Chandni Chowk."I have come from Rajasthan and I am enjoying the Jalebi here; it tastes wonderful," he said. "It would be great if the guests visited this area, as Chandni Chowk is a fantastic market with plenty of things to see."CHANDNI CHOWK HOPES TO MAKE GLOBAL IMPRESSIONFor the traders, the BRICS summit represents more than a major international event being hosted in Delhi. They see it as a chance for Chandni Chowk to present its traditional food, textiles and jewellery to visitors from across the world.From improving cleanliness and preparing special products to learning simple foreign-language phrases, shopkeepers are making efforts to ensure that international guests feel comfortable in the historic market.The traders are now hoping that the BRICS delegates will make time to visit Chandni Chowk, explore its bustling lanes and take back an experience of one of Delhi's most prominent traditional commercial centres.- EndsWith inputs from Ashutosh KumarPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 16:41 IST