Diwali Special: Everything you need to know about Diwali in Mumbai- Part 2

The first part of the article series talked about the best places to buy kandils, diyas and lamps. The second part will continue from where it left off, Crawford Market.

Slowly moving through the crowds of endless shoppers, we reached the clothing hub, Mangaldas Market. Mangaldas Market, situated inside Crawford Market is home to some of the best fabrics, sarees and dress materials in Mumbai. Not expecting much, we stepped inside the little alley and we were blinded by colours. Soft and luxurious fabrics everywhere. Cotton, chiffon and silks in different hues greet the eyes. This is definitely the busiest place with shoppers scampering everywhere as they look for the most eye-catching saree and suits to wear this Diwali. Any woman would be overwhelmed after stepping into the Mangaldas Market. We talked to a few shopkeepers who told us that their sales are at the peak due to the festival and wedding season. We moved out of the alley, stepping on a few toes and apologizing to many people. Shoving people out of the way is in the blood of Mumbaikars.

We trudged foward and were offered respite from the deadly heat by stopping at a sugarcane juice stall. Shoppers and shopkeepers turned towards the VadaPav and PaniPuri stalls, the lifelines of every hungry person in the city to refresh themselves for the next bout of shopping!

The next stop were the local sweet shops which were packed to the limit with customers because what is Diwali without sweets? The shops had so much to offer and definitely made one salivate! With sweets for the diabetic to sweets for the lactose intolerant, there were enough sweetmeats to keep everyone on the planet happy.

Every shop seemed to be doing a bustling trade, even the ones selling firecrackers even though a lot of people have turned Eco-friendly in the past and decided to celebrate Diwali the green way.

As we stepped out of the hustle-bustle of the bazaar, we had pretty much understood the tilt in the lifestyle of people during festivals. From different opinions to celebrating Diwali in different ways. From Muslims selling lights during Diwali to Hindus enjoying the festivities with them, festivals are all about coming together and having a gala time!

• About the Author

About Pratiksha Acharya

Pratiksha is tolerating her progress into adulthood with great difficulty. A bookworm to the core, she loves reading and debating. When her head is not stuck in a book, she likes to cook, dance and shop. For her, reading is more than a hobby. P.S.- She hates losing out on arguments.