The Mohammad Ali Experience

The holy month of  Ramzan always necessitate a trip to Mohammad Ali Road to partake in a sumptuous meal that the season has to offer you.

As you make your way down the crowded narrow streets, dodging people and handcarts, making sure you don't step in a puddle or dashed by a vehicle, you are just working up your appetite. Slowly and steadily you glance on the lit up minarets of the mosque and what follows is a true feast for all the senses.

As you approach Minara Masjid you are greeted by carts and carts of vendors busy frying nan-sandwiches, egg rolls and various kebabs. The whiff of tandoori chicken, malai chicken slowly filling your nostrils causing your now worked up tummy to begin its growling. You have Hyderabadi Haleem and chicken biryani, Kichda and various chicken dishes just stacked there calling out to you, tempting you, causing a small puddle to form in your mouth as you drool like Pavlov dog.

Every where you glance upon you can see people gorging down their food, savouring it. Sellers beckoning people to their stalls, offering you their air conditioned seating arrangements, in case you are looking at a way from escaping the heat. 

You have the office goers, teeny boppers, the enthusiastic photobloggers and photographers clicking stories and pictures for their blogs, families, people of various faiths and not just the Muslims. This is a place for everyone.

If you are one of those who are bothered about hygiene and how your food is cooked, then be prepared to go back empty stomach as this place ain't meant for you. In a way have you ever been to the kitchen of a 5-star restaurant? Also, all your calorie counting will go out of the window. If you don't want to enjoy good food then you need to leave your calorie concerns behind. Look at this way, you are giving yourself more calories to burn. One thing you do need to be concerned about is those who are not here for the food.

All in all, a trip to Mohammad Ali is a true feast for the senses, along with the feast for the stomach. It is also a good reminder of the cultural melting point that is Mumbai, where people will come together and celebrate in harmony not bothering about religion.