Buzz
During the holy month of Ramadan, Mumbai’s Minara Masjid neighborhood transforms into a bustling food hub at sundown. The khau galli—or 'eat street'—comes alive as vendors line the road offering a variety of barbecue and sweets to those breaking their fast. This lively street festival is open to all, and local photographer Hashim Badani, who has been documenting the event for years, captured the experience for Dinogo.
As Mumbai’s monsoon season begins, the weather turns humid, leaving everyone drenched in sweat, including photographer Badani. With crowds swarming the street, it's nearly impossible to stay still. 'It’s like being packed into a train at rush hour,' says Badani. Despite the heat and the rich, fatty foods being devoured, the sweat evaporates as quickly as it's generated, making for a truly immersive experience.
While there’s an abundance of meats like chicken tikka and goat brain masala, it’s the sweets that steal the show, especially the ones exclusive to this time of year. Popular treats include phirni, a sweet rice pudding served in traditional clay pots, malpua pancakes drenched in syrup, and mawa jalebi, crispy, syrup-coated dough swirls.
As Badani captured the vibrant scenes, vendors welcomed his camera with smiles, offering free sweets and posing just long enough to keep the line moving. For many of these food vendors, this nightly festival is incredibly lucrative, bringing in as much income in one evening as they would in the next six months.
The market stays alive until dawn, feeding a mix of late-night revelers, post-work diners, and Muslims grabbing a bite before the early morning prayers. During Ramadan, people flock to this part of the city—an area many would normally overlook—for the khau galli. It's a heartwarming sight, says Badani, to see Mumbai’s diverse community united over food.
Hashim Badani is a photographer based in Mumbai.
