Even though the Mumbai heat tries to play spoilsport for many, the festive spirit seems to have taken over the city. Hill Road in Bandra is buzzing with Mumbaikars young and old, who are buying a load full of decorations that bring even their otherwise white bags to life. “Do you have a bauble?,” asks one lady to the shopkeeper, who has put up his makeshift stall exactly opposite Balaji Restaurant. Having been in the business for more than 25 years, Roshan Bharmar points directly at what she wants, clearly knowing what she has asked for. 

If you have lived in Mumbai long enough, you know how the city turns all colourful during the festive season. With Christmas around the corner, it is probably the first time that people are going to be going all out to celebrate the festival. While mass services and gatherings did resume in 2021, there was still some hesitancy as most people were still worried about Coronavirus and its many variants looming large over our heads.