We began our day in Old Delhi at the Jama Masjid mosque, built high up from the city streets with a huge courtyard in front. I donned the required garb and took off my shoes but stayed in the courtyard to people watch while the others took the tour. It really was a sad place to be. As I watched the devotees drink the filthy water that’s used for foot washing and I thought about how the little children there would likely have no choice in what they believe but would grow up thinking that there was some merit and reward in what their religion prescribed. Many of the people look happy and the children, especially, smile when they see us foreigners but I’m told that India is actually one of the lowest on the “happiness scale” for countries.
Old Delhi is crowded, if nothing else. The dwellings and the market streets around the mosque are beyond description. So the pictures will have to do. From the mosque we set out on a rickshaw ride through the very narrow alleys and the main commercial area of Old Delhi. Our guide told us that the very poorest of the poor people were mostly refugees from places like Pakistan where life was even worse than it is in India. I find it hard to believe that it could be much worse.
After riding through Old Delhi we visited a Sikh temple where they feed 10,000 people a day and then Raj Ghat, a very clean and peaceful park where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Although most Indians revere him as one who did much for the country we hear that there is a push to re-write their history to vilify him.
We opted not to go to a light and water show because we had had a long day and so ended our time in Delhi.
Sure is colorful. I have heard other travelers say it is hard to describe the smells.