Although the Mela is within 500m Euclidean distance from our hostel, that direction is blocked by a pretty high barbed wire fence. Hence, we had to take the only route through the Main Gate and then surrounding the Powai lake. It took us 45 mins in Mumbai Jam and 50 rupees auto fare to reach the site.
And then we saw it. An extravaganza of life. Extraordinarily vivid and living gathering of thousands of people. Yes, the mela was big enough. With balloons to Motorcycle Stunts to roller-coasters and foods. The rates were cheap and fun was affordable. It took me back 10 years when small things in life gave me tremendous happiness. We shot at little balloons, rode a roller-coaster, tested our gambling fate with ring throwing (and we won Rs. 100 cash!). The mela looked a lot like the mela's I used to see in my childhood days.
Except of course, the food. Most of the food items I didn't even saw previously. We tested halwa-paratha where the parathas are 2 feet in diameter. We had greasy-spicy chicken roll dipped in pudina chutney.
Near the end of the Mela there was Chand Shah Wali Baba Dargah. In the adjoining ground Qawali performance was going on. This is the first time I saw any live Qawali performance.
People say pictures are worth thousands of words. Hence I will talk no more. Instead, let me present some of the moments of the gathering. Pictures are taken by my friends (Abhirup, Victor and me)
People and life -->
We rode this one -->
Roller-coasters -->
Little Balloons for shooting practice -->
One of the numerous food stalls -->
Colors and more colors -->
Chicken roll dipped in pudina chutney -->
The roll and moghlai shop -->
Halwa-parathas.. note the size of the parathas -->
And the decoration and colors of the halwa -->
The Qawali singers at the Dargah ground
These are we -->
