Who Lights Up Mumbai’s Diwali? Meet The Unsung Hands Behind The Festivities
Long before the first diya is lit, Mumbai’s Diwali begins in the dark. Tempos from Nashik and Satara reverse into the lane under the Dadar flyover and tip out sacks of marigold, while electricians in Kalbadevi load coils of fairy lights onto their shoulders. By the time most of the city wakes up, the flowers have been strung and the lights are on their way to a hundred housing societies. Families…
Mumbai's Diwali celebrations begin long before the first diya is lit, with vendors and workers toiling behind the scenes. Nashik and Satara trucks arrive with marigold flowers from farms in Maharashtra, while electricians in Kalbadevi prepare fairy lights for their journey to housing societies. Garland makers in Dadar string flowers onto cotton thread, while potters in Dharavi's Kumbharwada work through October to craft earthen diyas.
Electrical goods are stocked up in Lohar Chawl for the next fortnight, with freelance electricians fixing any issues that arise on Lakshmi Puja evening. Domestic workers and factory employees work tirelessly to clean homes and factories, and delivery riders carry goods from shop to doorstep. On the morning after the festival, sanitation staff clear the waste generated by Diwali celebrations, ensuring that city streets are clean for the next day.
Despite the hard work, many workers receive little recognition or fair pay for their efforts during the festival season.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
