City Vox Popili - A Life in Sarthak's Day, Khan Market

City Vox Popili – A Life in Sarthak’s Day, Khan Market

As part of The Delhi Walla series asking citizens to “write down everything you did in one day.” Send yours in 400 words max to thedelhiwallasoofi@gmail.com [Photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] [By Sarthak Kaul, a trans-Yamuna writer] I wake up,…

Mission Delhi - Bimlesh, Galli Choori Walan

Mission Delhi – Bimlesh, Galli Choori Walan

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] It looks like a mandir. Her tiny food stall is decked with sacred portraits of her beloved “devi-devta”—Durga ji, Lakshmi ji, Ganesh ji, Kali Maa,…

City Hangout - Lodhi Garden in White Light, Central Delhi

City Hangout – Lodhi Garden in White Light, Central Delhi

Lodhi’s light ages. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The green of the green hedges is coated in a semi-transparent film of white. So is the grass on the baldy lawn. Tonight’s moon is super-generous, liberally bestowing its white…

City Neighbourhood - Katra Baan Wale, Old Delhi

City Neighbourhood – Katra Baan Wale, Old Delhi

A place-name in the Walled City. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] In the old days in Old Delhi, Purani Dilli wale would have beds of baan, strings made of “munj” or “kans” plants. These beds were called charpai,…

City Vox Popili - A Life in Abid's's Day, Oman Coast

City Vox Popili – A Life in Abid’s’s Day, Oman Coast

As part of The Delhi Walla series asking citizens to “write down everything you did in one day.” Send yours in 400 words max to thedelhiwallasoofi@gmail.com [Photos by Syed Abid Ali] [By Syed Abid Ali,a sailor and engineer] My 7:05am…

City Monument - Stone Jaalis, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya's Dargah

City Monument – Stone Jaalis, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s Dargah

Screens forever. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Air entwined with stone, becoming jaali. The lattice screen has long been an element of Delhi’s architecture. One unlikely place to experience this living heritage is the sufi shrine of Hazrat…

City Landmark - Delhi Junction Railway Station, Kashmere Gate Side

City Landmark – Delhi Junction Railway Station, Kashmere Gate Side

The junction’s other view. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The hapless citizen is wading through Kashmere Gate chaos, unable to find a way out of the bazar’s loopy labyrinthine. Suddenly—escape! The land ends into multitudes of intersecting railways…

City Landmark - RK Mohan Musical Instruments, Hamilton Road

City Landmark – RK Mohan Musical Instruments, Hamilton Road

A city secret. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Pinewood harmoniums are piled up one upon another. Over there: a sitar, a veena, a mandolin. Confined to a tiny space, this amazing Hamilton Road shop is densely crammed with…

City Food - Madhur Jaffrey’s An Invitation to Indian Cooking, Around Town

City Food – Madhur Jaffrey’s An Invitation to Indian Cooking, Around Town

A city’s suisine. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] All cookbooks contain recipes. Only a few give insightful glimpses into a culture. Only a very few of those manage to propel a cuisine to worldwide fame, Some such books…

City Vox Popili - A Life in Keziah's Day, IIT Delhi

City Vox Popili – A Life in Keziah’s Day, IIT Delhi

As part of The Delhi Walla series asking citizens to “write down everything you did in one day.” Send yours in 400 words max to thedelhiwallasoofi@gmail.com [Photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] [By Keziah Souza, a research scholar in IIT Delh]…