Ep. 4: Delhi

De: Vincent Ebrahim

No trip to India would be complete without a visit to the capital, Delhi. It's the seat of political and economic power, the epitome of vibrant modern India, but it's also historically one of the most important Mughal towns in the country. The wide manicured boulevards of the planned city of New Delhi sit up against the maze of narrow streets of the old city.

Vincent ventures deep into the little lanes to sample some street food delights. Ancient temples jostle for space with glass-fronted shopping malls. Vincent is curious to visit a dilapidated fort where people come from across the country to make offerings to spirits who can grant wishes: djinns, the root of the English word 'genie'.

He also visits a shrine to experience a qawwali recital - a form of sufi devotional music that he last heard live in London. Finally, Vincent heads to see a night of stand-up comedy: a burgeoning scene, fuelled by the growing middle class looking for entertainment outside of film and television.

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