The Jama Masjid Diaries...

I have been meaning to write this post for almost 2 weeks but something or the other kept cropping up. Though delayed but here it is...

Being a NCR kid for over 13 years, I have had my opportunity to be in and around Purani Dilli & its bylanes - be it the Nai Sarak where I shopped for text books at discounted price or the gali Chandni Chowk where I have hogged yummy munchings with my partners in crime or the extensive shopping spree I went on during my brother's wedding or the visit to Jama Masjid during an excursion tour.

Though crowded & crazily crazy, the bylanes exude their own old world charm. Amidst all the mayhem & chaos, one checkbox was yet to be filled in these past years. Over the years, I had only heard about how alive these bylanes looked at midnight during the Eid celebrations but never got an opportunity to experience it.

Every year I thought of asking few friends to tag along with me so that I could tick this pending item from my "To Do's" list. Alas...nothing could materialize. Well they say that nothing happens before the time is right and I experienced it first hand.

Finally, this year I got the opportunity to visit this part of the city during the Eid celebrations. The rains had turned the approach road quite muddy but the most amazing part was that no one went about splashing the water, while they drove to their respective destinations.

The Sehri time felt like a celebration in itself. At 0130 hours, the bylane was so lively that I felt as if I was traversing through busy Karol Bagh at evening time. We explored a lot and finally reached our destination - "Karims".

There were seven of us and we gorged on the Sehri delicasies as if we had never eaten food and won't get the opportunity in future as well. Be it the Kebabs or the Korma or the Nihari, everything was finger licking good. Could not try out Biryani as it got over way before we reached.

What followed next is what got etched in my memory forever...

As we stepped out of the Karims, and joined the mayhem back in the lane....I saw myself surrounded by souls from different cities, countries and religions. The sea of people, right below the colorful night left a lasting impression on me. Few of them were there for the renowned food walks: some were there as part of the Eid celebrations while others like us were there to experience the energy around the celebratory fervour.

The gang took turns & clicked scores of pictures. The one close to my heart? Me looking up at the fancy trimmings, lost in my thoughts with the Jama Masjid in the backdrop.

One more down....many more to go.....