Eid mubarak...

which means - greetings of Eid

the diaspora of Hyderabad, especially the old city, being predominantly Muslim, Eid is the biggest festival of the city...it is on this day that the devout muslims break their month long fasting...so a trip to the old city was inevitable...the mess on the streets were telling the story of festivities of the last night...today being the festival day, most of the shops will remain closed...

the festivals have a magical effect on the kids...they somehow get this extra dose of adrenaline during the festivals...and this spirit has nothing to do with how much money their family has or what all places they are going to visit on the day...the pleasures are simple yet precious...it is about showing off new clothes to all the other kids in the neighbourhood...about visiting neighbours and relatives just to have as much sweets as they can have...about laughing and jumping around in the narrow alleys of the city...about showing the pretty henna adorned palms to friends...and at times, if some crazy photographers from the boring parts of the city visit your locality, get them to click your pictures till eternity...these kids were infectiously spirited and cheerful today...right, festival has hit the town! Eid Mubarak!

holiday today! :)

a few more from today