“Yaar, ye Delhi hai ya Gaza?” The question of a journalist friend sitting next to me in the car is not unusual. I am sweating profusely even though I am sitting inside the AC car at 9 pm in the third week of October. Even if I did not see the bombing of Gaza, my situation is similar to that of those who have seen glimpses of 'Operation Sindoor' on TV screens. Sitting amidst the ear-splitting sound of firecrackers and smoke on the night of Kali Puja, it seems that the bomb that fell will probably hit the windscreen of the car!
Amidst the bomb blasts, standing on Mandir Marg in New Delhi, I was reminded of a prediction made by a senior Supreme Court lawyer last week. After a bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai ruled that eco-friendly crackers can be burst in Delhi, the lawyer said, "A thief should never be shown a broken fence. Look at what the situation in Delhi will be like after this verdict!"
After leaving New Delhi Kalibari, we head straight to Karol Bagh. The traffic and fireworks on the main road are a little less. But the situation in the alleys and streets is not to be missed! Standing near Channa Market in Karol Bagh, it felt like India had won the World Cup! Bombs were exploding there in the series. So many types of fireworks, so many loud noises, along with toxic smoke—it was an absolutely deadly situation.
The destination from Karol Bagh is Delhi's mini Kolkata - Chittaranjan Park. It took 40 minutes to reach. But before entering the famous Kalibari in CR Park, we had to park our cars on different roads again and again. Fireworks and bombs are being burst in the middle of the road. Where are the bans? No eco-friendly firecrackers or green crackers as directed by the Supreme Court. All the firecrackers bursting in front of our eyes make an ear-splitting noise, along with toxic smoke
There is also a lot of banging going on around Kalibari in CR Park. Coming to the old neighbourhood, Kalkaji, a little further away, it feels like we have entered Kashmir! The situation is like an encounter. No militants are visible in front of the eyes, only bombs of different sizes are falling on the road one after another! Some are exploding on the road. Some are scattering like garlands of light in the sky. If the burning shells fall on the head, you will definitely be in the hospital!
The experience was even more terrifying when I stopped my car at a place and got out to buy a cold drink. Suddenly, five young men came out of an alley and spread a 'row' of Kalipatka all over the road. It was about 500 meters long!
As soon as they were set on fire, it became clear that even though they looked like firecrackers, they were more powerful than 'Burima's' chocolate bombs. As loud as the sound was, so were the firecrackers and smoke. The whole area was shaking. Govindpuri, Okhla, Sarita Vihar—everywhere was the same picture. The police were nowhere to be seen! Yet the Supreme Court had strictly ordered the Delhi Police to control the situation.
A picture of me on my way back to Noida via Kalindi Kunj on the banks of the Yamuna. By then, the clock had struck twelve. The air was filled with smoke. The fireworks were still going strong. When I dropped my journalist friend off at his house in Noida and parked the car in my society, I felt like I was coming back to life. I muttered to myself, 'Really, I should never show a thief a broken fence!’
