Buzz
During Ramadan in Mumbai, the iconic street near Minara Masjid transforms at dusk into a bustling food festival. This historic alleyway, known as a khau galli or 'eat street,' hosts vendors offering a variety of barbecues and sweets for those breaking their fast. Local photographer Hashim Badani, a longtime visitor, captured the vibrant atmosphere for Dinogo.
With the arrival of Mumbai’s monsoon season, humidity is high even on dry days. “I was drenched either way,” Badani notes about his experience. The street is packed with food enthusiasts and Ramadan participants moving continuously, making standing still nearly impossible. “You’re constantly moving in khau galli, and although you indulge in rich foods, you sweat it out by the time you leave,” Badani explains.
The festival features an array of meats, including chicken tikka and goat brain masala, but the real attraction is the sweets. These treats, often unique to this festival, include phirni—a sweet rice pudding served in clay pots, deep-fried
While photographing the event, Badani found vendors enthusiastic about the camera, offering free sweets and briefly pausing to keep the line moving. Many vendors make as much in these nightly festivals as they would in six months, according to Badani.
The market stays open all night, serving up delicious street food to late-night Mytours, post-work visitors, and Muslims seeking a meal before dawn prayers. During Ramadan, this part of Mumbai, usually less frequented, becomes a lively hub where people gather over food, a sight Badani appreciates as it showcases the city’s unity.
Hashim Badani is a Mumbai-based photographer.
