By Asmita Sarkar:
On the morning of Eid, my friend and photographer, Arnob Das and I found ourselves in the middle of Chawri Bazaar on our way to Jama Masjid. Namaz e Eid-ul- fitr had just ended when we arrived and the streets were thronged with men dressed in white kurta pajamas and skullcaps, who stared strangely at the heavy DSLR cameras in our hands.
The air around us rippled with chatter and laughter. Men stopped to offer Zakat (charity) to the people who sat on the side of the road for alms. Once we were through the gates of Jama Masjid we saw women, children and mostly men sitting on the steps, in conversation.
In this festive aura, while adults stood around and chatted
These children enjoying themselves caught our eye
Some, alone, were enough to capture everyone’s attention
While others sat calmly and dipped their feet in the pool of water. Or not.
And there were those who sat quietly with their parents
While these little ones amused themselves playing with the pigeons
Some preferred to go home, holding their father’s hand
In their choice of transport
But this little boy found a joyful reason to stay
However, it was this duo that seemed to know how to chill
