Day 3, tuesday: sensual walk through Dharavi

080304_Dharavi_walk through_tuesday

our group walked east to west from sion station to mahim station, getting very lost along the way. this map is hopeless...

click above to see the visual documentation.

what struck me today was the calmer sense of the nagars with respect to the busy, noisy roads around the perimeter in yesterdays experience.
the density of the blocks of ppl living squashed together. the darkness and narrowness of tiny alleys with gutters and pipes on the ground, and electrical conduits at my head height. there is only enough space for 1 person to walk, but you manage 2 depending on how you can step over gutters...
the darkness of these alleys makes you appreciate the 'light at the end of the tunnel' and small spaces deep inside the community providing respite.
women seem to be in these small alleys, monitoring their nagar and socialising with eachother.
we came across 1 large public space (cricket and parking) and some small public niches today (water well, toilet, washing).
main streets are busy, ppl selling everything, ppl going through rubbish, children following us everywhere. it feels very safe.
strong contrast between the established, clean, legal community of the Koli Wada and its dirty, industrial surroundings. women making poppadoms in communal space, kids playing.

ppl asking us why we're here. now we have some contacts. political figures in areas. large vast areas of filth. ppl all doing something. kids everywhere, no supervision, follow us for ages. some important looking elderly men sit in shade at street corner. this is their turf. but we're welcome...

cross the bridge over the railway, out of dharavi now. this is much nicer. trees. hospital. nice residences.