To celebrate Dadi's birthday on the other side of the world, we decided to serve chai to strangers in the streets after an evening of delicious food and smiles at Seva Cafe. It's 12:30 or so and Raghu starts making the chai. (The full story here: http://growinginthisworld.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/the-gift-of-chai/)
While Raghu prepares the chai, Sandeep works on some Diwali prep.
This is what about 8 liters of chai looks like.
Nimesh arrives and helps Raghu in making chai.
It adds great flavor to the chai. :-)
And we're off!
As Diwali is days away, we find a number of families sleeping next to their carts covered in rongoli colored powders.
Nimo shares a moment with the mother and child.
Sharing a cup of chai
Raghu settles into this auto-wala's auto to share some thoughts and some warmth. The beauty of using the Seva Cafe cups is that is requires us to also give them the time to finish their chai and chat before moving on.
And moving on, we do. Slowly making our way on the dark and (comparatively speaking) empty streets, to share chai with auto-walas, truck drivers, security guards and the random souls out at 2am.
Dhaval fills another cup of sharing
Bhaskar serves a cup with a smile
The man just set up the flowers on his storefront behind him.
Serving security guards
Every time we explained to people that we were celebrating Dadi's birthday in CA, they sent happy wishes to her.
A foot
Every night, after Seva Cafe, we come to this street corner to give this family the evening's leftovers. Around midnight, they return to their home and serve the food to the many people living around them. Tonight, the chai is for them.
Sandeep attempts to wake up the boy for a cup of chai
I love her smile, a gift I received every night when Bhaskar and I would drop off the leftover food from that day's Seva Cafe service.
Bhaskar with his young friend. When Seva Cafe ends early, he often comes to this corner and share some time with these folks who have been providing food to their neighbors for decades.
A good night sleep. Each to his seat. Kush sapne
We also so chai with dogs, who think it's a little warm
Another cup for a kaka
With little chai left, the boys leave us to return to Seva Cafe to get the bikes.
We head to...
...our last spot, the 24-hour Vodaphone store, where one of the very first Manav Sadhna kids now works.
When the boys arrived with the bikes, it was time to head home. But, Dhaval had the brilliant idea of heading up to Manak Chowk for a 2:30am snack. :-) I LOVE riding through the Ahmedabad streets at night. So does Sonal...
...and Sandeepbhai and Roshni. :-)
Now, back in Seva Cafe. Earlier that day, we had a LOT of fun with the camera. Enjoy!
The Seva Cafe boys
They huddle to look at the photos on my camera. And that creates an awesome photo opp.
:-)
:-) :-)
:-) :-) :-)
:-) :-) :-) :-)
A view under the table, packed tightly
Raghu the star
With Bhaskar
Raju and Bhaskar
Did I say it already? LOVE him!
Bhaskar Chef
Hanging out in the kitchen
With Deepak
Love this photo of Deepak
Taken by Raghubhai :-)
Laxaben
With a volunteer
Taking a rest
The beginning of the photo shoot
Flashback two years!!!
Photogenic Sandeep
Are you happy today?
No, this one is not upside down
Raghu and Nimesh saying hi when Nimesh arrived
For you non-Indians, it is a mark of respect to touch the feet of a person when you greet them or say good-bye. Raghu and Nimo grabbed eachother's feet. :-)
