my bambaia (bombay) diwali

diwali lights on a nearby apt building

I'm renting a flat in a quiet lane off the noisy Lokhandwala market in Andheri. The entire stretch of the market is lit up at night for Diwali and its almost as bright as daylight. 10 pm and the shops are still open and doing brisk business. Some Vyapari Mandal (a traders' association) has arranged for the lights and there are speakers set up every 10 meters or so along the sidewalk - yesterday night they were blaring Hindi film songs.

happy diwali

loitering men

old woman taking a chaat-break from shopping

There are also people selling flowers on the road-sides everywhere, lights or no lights.

So bought some flowers to hang above the door to my flat. I don't think I have acted this festive since I was 16 years old. Even felt tempted to do a rangoli but didn't think there was enough space at the flat entrance to do a good one without someone stepping on it within 24 hours.