I always like visiting some places, eating something, traveling somewhere and seeing something obvious for the first time.
Yesterday it was our 62nd Independence Day. On this our special occasion, as coined Red Fort monument name in my mind, I made a flashback in my memory, you know – what happened last month.. as usual I was in my office and working on something. Before leaving for my home, one of my co-workers sent a message on the terminal of my work station – “Kya Aaj Chandni Chowk wala – Parathe Wali Gali Chalein” (how it would be to go to “lane of parantha-makers”…) and Jama Masjid as well for chillout. I said, Hmmm…..let me think. Since I have been living in Delhi for last fourteen years but I never planned before to visit this famous place. So, without thinking much I decided to go there along with my colleagues.
First, let you know about Gali Paranthe Wali (literally “the bylane of fried bread”) – it is the name of a narrow street in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, India, noted for its series of shops selling paratha, a fried Indian bread, and now a popular culinary destination. Paranthe Wali Gali (”lane of parantha-makers”) in Old Delhi is a famous gourmet localities of the world.
According to last minute plan, we left for this place in the evening and I remembered it was 28th July 2009. As I use my own car for going office…when we came out from our office it started raining and after talking with one another we decided – why not we go there by metro… then I said what would I do with my car. Some of us took metro for Rajouri Garden and I reached Rajouri Garden metro station with three co-workers and there I parked my car. From there we all together took metro and reached Chawri Bazaar metro station. One of my colleagues is resident of Chandni chowk who is familiar with this place very well and he was guiding us to reach Gali Parathe Wali.
Before going Gali Parathe wali, we decided to see Jama Masjid of Delhi. As we reached Jama Masjid, we all got wet as it was rainy season but for last one month all Delhiites were praying for rain and finally it rained that day we were all feeling very happy and cool. Rain after a long time brought relief to us.
As we reached at the entrance gate of mosque, one of my fellow friends asked us to put off our shoes and carry it in our respective hands before stepping in the mosque. I didn’t have any idea about this. I never went to a mosque before this trip that’s why I were unaware of these customs. So I asked one of my fellows to explain the reason – why we actually put off the shoes at entrance gate and carry it???
He explained the reason that as ritual purification precedes all prayers, mosques often have ablution fountains or other facilities for washing in their entryways or courtyards.
After putting off our shoes, we entered in Jama Masjid mosque and took entry tickets for entering lofty minarets – there are two lofty minarets – it’s 30 feet high, and containing 130 steps. longitudinally striped with white marble and red sandstone, flank the domes on either side. The minarets are divided by three projecting galleries and are surmounted by open twelve-sided domed pavilions.
We entered in one of minarets – as went up the minaret and when we were going up, it was dark inside the minaret’s stairs and finally we reached to the top of the minaret – Wow! we can see the town clearly and very well, so we took some snaps from there to capture these memorable moments.
When we came down-stairs – we gave tip to a care taker of the minarets and he became very happy giving a big smile to all of us. After that we went to the mosque’s ablution fountain (facilities for washing) in courtyard for ritual purification. One of my friends said, “the prayer is about to start and therefore he is leaving for prayer” and rest of us waiting there for him at courtyard and other at the gate of the entrance.
After prayer he came back and then we put on our shoes and took rickshaw to reach Gali Parathe Wali (”lane of parantha-makers”) and on the way to this place it started raining again, the street was so narrow, crowded and very busy, and due to this traffic was very slow… We were just about to reach there but it was raining so heavily that somehow we managed to reach Gali Parathe Wali. Then we relaxed for sometime and gradually ordered for different varieties of paratha for which we came here. Well, the paratha includes exotic fillings like Kaju, Badam, Matar, Mix Paranthas, Rabri parantha etc. The parantha was served with a side of sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mixed vegetable pickle, a paneer and potato curry, potato and fenugreek curry, and a sauteed mash of sweet pumpkin (sitaphal).
We had varieties of parathas there. While having parathas in dinner it was raining heavily which was awesome! As we finished our food we saw lanes and road were completely inundated with water .. still it was raining — you know water went up to knee height. Then we, three of us, decided to take rickshaw to reach metro station. But other were still saying – “let’s go to have some ice-cream, too”. But I said no because rain has worsen the road condition and we should leave before getting stuck. So it would be better to leave for home now. They said , “we are going to have ice-cream in Giani Ice-cream Parlor which is famous in Chandani Chowk. I said – okay, if you guys want to have some dessert then you can go. We divided into two groups – one group headed to Giani and other group in which I was decided to leave for home. Thus, we took quick walk to the nearest metro station but after traveling some distance we noticed some drainage covers were opened. The heavy rain led to the inundation of Chandni Chowk and city road as well. The clogged drains led to the mixing of sewage with rainwater at many places causing hardship to the vehicles or footpath goer. It was still raining heavily. I meant to say, it was very risky to walk on the road and footpath as because it was inundated with water — went to knee height. So I suggested to hire a rickshaw and this way we three guys reached metro station and later we came to know other guys also decided to leave for home.
One of the guys was carrying a laptop in a bag and other friend’s mobile and he noticed that his laptop as well as the mobile got wet. Now, both got worried because his mobile stopped working and he could not make a call. At the metro station, both guys re-checked the laptop and mobile and found that the laptop was working apparently but mobile wasn’t.
Well, at metro station we put off our shoes and squeezed them and again wore it. We guys were waiting for a metro to arrive and finally got into the metro. At the other stoppage some passengers were getting in but can’t find space so one of my friends, got down the metro to let the passenger out but he could not get in and the door closed. It was just a funny moment for all of us because we know once the door is closed no one can enter. Well, we reached the destination and he further reached his place somehow..
As I had parked my car near Rajouri Garden Station so I took my car from there and make my way to home. While driving I got stuck in traffic jam due to heavy rain which took me thrice the time to reach my home as compare to normal schedule. Well, somehow I too, reached my home and instantly took bath because I had walked in dirty water and after taking bath I went to bed without wasting time..:-) as I was too tired.
Really I will never forget this day. It was really fun going there and fantastic as well as memorable day of my life, I have never experienced before. Though I got tired and faced so much difficulties but the most important thing is that I enjoyed a lot.