Theatrical shows staging versatile performances, eateries serving hot, tantalizing dishes and mouthwatering desserts, stalls exhibiting the art and creativity of the region, the thrill of buying varied items and calling your price, all welcomed by friendly smiles of the merchants characterizes the life of an Indian street. Your mood is upset or heart shattered; the therapy that would instantly cheer you is a stroll in the busy street, the life and fervor of which qualifies to please your five senses in five minutes.

In light and darkness

People take to streets on all occasions, be it a celebration, shopping, or daily chores. The day life of a bustling Indian street pictures the traffic of office goers, long queues for public transports, and loud calls of tireless shop owners aspire to entice the passersby. Roaring stereo music and destitute musicians, beggars and thieves trying their destinies for the day, stray kids and stray puppies, all actively contribute to its noise and gaudy shades. Stumbling in the mobbed, overflowing streets and thief encounters are common occurrences, which people should be aware of.  Bewildering tricks and eye-catching entertainments by various artists set up the platform for spellbinding street-performances - a snake charmer playing his mesmerizing tune, a young lad performing acrobatic plays, a monkey dressed in a skirt doing girlish acts, the cock fights, a blind man’s song, and more demonstrate the talents hidden in people and their everyday challenges to prove and sell their skills for earning a living.

At night, the kerosene lights and bulbs brighten the beauty of the street where people in leisure spirit and cool air stroll, eat, or buy things. The Indian street also is the shelter for many homeless, poor laborers, who after a hard day’s toil can afford a simple meal and a sheet to cover their body in the cold nights.

A Picture of the Nation

2005 World Bank has estimated that 42% of India’s total population falls below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day. With this being the economic scenario, there are many who have no home but the street to rely upon for shelter, food, and living. According to a statistical estimate of 2005, almost 150,000 children live on the streets of Delhi, the capital of India. It is henceforth common to witness the lives of the underprivileged along the stretches, where under a torn plastic shade a mother can be seen preparing dinner, a naked infant crying alone, and his sister collecting broken pieces of an unwanted item, thinking how it can be used. Street beggars, rag pickers and illiterate, unemployed street children are the grave effect of such a condition.

Tangy and Spicy

The Indian street culture has given us various appetizing snacks, drinks, and meal items, that are fresh, ready to eat, and cheap. Chaat is a typical tangy-flavored snack which has earned fame all over the country. Pani puri, aloo tikki, egg roll, and vara pao are the other favorites. Barbecued meats called tandoories are displayed in the brightly lit stalls, the smell and color of which are guaranteed to weaken the self-control of any passerby. Lassi, a yoghurt drink, coconut water, and kulfi, a cream-based dessert, are among the highest-sold street items in the tropical climate of India.

The streets of India share a glimpse of the country’s contemporary condition, hued with colors of festivals and diverse cultural practices. It offers the recreation and fun people deserve, but simultaneously it showcases genuine stories of many who live and strive on these streets, the revival of which would enhance the charm and uplift the condition of the Indian street culture.