Mr

I remember meandering through the 800 years of history centered around the tomb of the great 13th century saint, Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and stimulate my senses with the magnificent architecture of from the Sultanate era, the fragrance of the rose petals and attar, the local cuisine of khameeri rotis, kebabs, biryanis and qormas, the spiritual music of the Sufi qawwali sama at the Dargah of the great Sufi saint. Mehrauli made sacred with the rauza of Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, is one of the oldest settlements and with the interwoven streets, the place becomes more interesting to visit with surprises at every turn that one takes. The street leading to the Dargah is the most vibrant and busiest street. It remains crowded day and night. Both edges are occupied by beggars, food stalls, and vendors selling various items- caps, bags, bead strings, phool-chadar etc.- commonly purchased by the pilgrims to the Dargah. I find antiquity to be an important element of the historical structures around. They tell us stories and provide references to the past and for the present. A place where tradition is still an important element unlike the west where they see it as histioies. Out there on the streets I feel the enthusiasm for Phool-walon ki sair, which is noted for its inter-religious character, which begins in a muslim shrine and ends at a Hindu temple. The ship-shaped Jahaz Mahal, across the bazaar acting as places for rehearsals for the naatak mandalis, is another mesmerising place to go to. As I further move ahead I see the narrow lanes abutted by the traditional houses and the spaces in front used by the women of the house when the men are not around. Children play, using every corner of the available space. Its interesting to see how children transform the spaces around into play spaces. Truly dynamic in nature.