Mumbai Streets before Diwali

In an otherwise gray landscape & seascape, I can forgive Mumbai during the festive season. The sights definitely pile up colour, texture and a spirit that is infectious.

Since the traffic generally kills you before and during Diwali, what with people shopping for Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Lakshmi Pooja, Bhai Duj et all, decided to make a round of the markets first thing on a Sunday morning while the shoppers were still lolling in bed and the shopkeepers were dusting their wares & sprucing up their business place.

My colleague & friend from office, Vinita Advani, volunteered to take me around Santa Cruz & Khar market. The trip was excellent since not only were these places new to me but also the fact that though Vinita & I sit right next to each other at work, we hardly ever have time to catch up on a personal level.  So post catching up over a cuppa at Theobroma, Bandra, we took my daughter’s favourite mode of transport – the auto.

I am biased towards open markets in comparison to malls and the hi-fi shopping centers which are springing up everywhere every other day. These markets have so much more character and so much more to offer. …any thing that you can think of.

These shots are an attempt to capture the spirit of Diwali on Mumbai roads and more importantly the things that I love.  They are the handiwork of thousands of people in and around Mumbai and an important part of the economy of the country. The mithai shops & the teen patti sessions have been omitted since I am done with them, for now!

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