Waiting for the Ascent : Dharavi

Waiting for the ascent: a woman ponders outside her house

Mumbai is undergoing a sea change and no where else can this change can be felt more than in the big slums like Dharavi where the shanties are being razed by the day to make way for swank buildings & skyscrapers in various projects being undertaken by the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority).

Millions of residents of the slums are awaiting with bated breaths and hopeful eyes to make the Ascent from the urban poor to the Great Indian Middle class.


hopeful eyes : one of the families in Dharavi in their prayer room cum bedroom cum living room


Dharavi due to its proximity to the swank Bandra Kurla complex and also the airport is inviting the attention of the super big corporates of the likes of the Ambanis and the Godrejs who are competing to corner the largest pie of the slum redevelopment schemes.
























Electric dreams

The Rich or the Poor ,Who makes the biggest ascent in this game remains to be seen........... but many have already made the obvious assumption.

An Indian Wedding at Dharavi

Bride Groom & Baratis at a wedding,Dharavi

Its November again and it is the beginning of the Wedding season in India which lasts upto March.The streets are abuzz with Bandwallas and Baratis dancing with such hysteria and trance that it will put any hard rocker to rethink his moves.Everyone from the neighbors (and their guests), the relatives (and their relatives),family members(and their friends),people on the street(and those on the few streets beyond) join in and play a part in realizing this great Indian Dream with such fanfare and aplomb that it rivals the best Samba parade in the world.

balloon seller at Girgaum Chowpatty

balloon seller Chowpatty

Girgaum Chowpatty is a good place for an evening stroll as well as some photography with the local vendors selling everything from balloons,key chains,kites to Kerala ayurvedic massage oils and other fancy knick-knacks.Its a refreshing experience.



Masks

' Do You want to buy my fish or not.........'

fisher women selling fish

' Do You want to buy my fish or not.........'


Its not a threat nor is it a request......, but its a statement hurled at you by a busy fisher woman of Mumbai in a distinct and definite authoritative tone if one tries to bargain too hard with her.The fisher women handle the selling of the fresh catch from the seas every morning .Typically, the fisher men go for fishing in the high seas and the job of selling the fish is left to the fisher women who go about their job like a true professional.She can be ruthless and requesting,friendly and aloof,calm and agressive all at the same time but one thing is for sure; she does manage to sell all the fish by the end of the day.



a fish market

A peaceful co - existence

a peaceful co-existence

In today's troubled times...........what more can one ask for......

Ramzaan delicacies on Mohammed Ali Road

Open air Eateries on Mohammed Ali road

Minara Masjid on Mohammed Ali Road  is the heart of Ramzaan festivities in Mumbai.
Days of fasting are punctuated with nights of feasting as families gather at the eateries on the open arterial streets 
around the  Masjid savouring mouth watering delicacies.


streetview Minara Masjid

Mumbai set to lose a part of its heritage

view of Crawford market against the backdrop of the Mumbai Harbour


With the talks of the redevelopment of CRAWFORD MARKET (now christened Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) Mumbai is set to lose a part of its heritage. Some may feel an exagerration but to me this can be compared to the destruction of the Buddha Sculptures at Bamiyan in Afganistan by the Taliban, though the means and motives are different the results are the same: the loss of heritage.

monsoon magic

The Monsoon in Mumbai leaves you breathless , wet and oh so romantic!
Enjoy while it rains!

Farewell To Ganesha

Mumbai finally bid farewell to its favorite god Ganesha.Ganesha festival is the most important festival in Mumbai and the whole city is abuzz with "Ganpati Bappa Morya" chants throughout the ten days of festivities.

Bollywood

bollywood stuntmen

Mumbai lives and breathes 'Bollywood' - the unofficial name of the Indian Hindi Film industry based in Mumbai.It is the largest film industry in the world and produces more films every year than any other film industry in the world.
In Mumbai Bollywood makes its presence felt everywhere on the streets, the tea stalls,hoardings et all.
Here are some pictures of the Mumbai junta's bollywood madness.

Johnny Flower-bollywood double at a tea stall


Mumbai street view outside a Theater