The day’s outing.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

It’s Eid today. The Delhi Walla spent the morning in the Muslim quarter of the Walled City.

I walked along the alleys and also entered the homes of welcoming hosts. The most memorable aspect of the festival, however, took place out on the street. A little girl, dressed in a red sequined lehenga and a crossbody bag, was trying to walk like any woman used to such an elaborate dress. It was a challenging task. Her one arm was not only holding two brand-new white dolls but also a set of kitchen toys. The other arm held onto a man, probably her father.

The costume was not proving to be easy for the little girl. The dolls, too, were demanding her attention. She was tightly clinging on to them. At one point she turned and stared at me. Otherwise she continued to walk with her guardian until they reached a chhole bhathure joint. There they stopped for the little girl’s treat of the day.

The Eid folks and then the little girl in red

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