Myriad hues of life in Heritage Street
WATCHING the hustle and bustle of daily life from the large windows of a fast food joint on the Heritage Street in Amritsar has become a Sunday morning ritual for me. The eatery is located merely steps away from the Jallianwala Bagh and the Golden Temple. I usually take the same centre table, which affords me a perfect vantage point. With a cappuccino in hand, I get ready for showtime, putting my phone away.
The street is lined with an array of tourist shops, and there’s always a flood of visitors — some coming and some departing — all depicting the many hues of fashion. There are families, newly wed couples, large tourist groups and even solo travellers, whose faces tell many stories.
There’s always someone to distract them — usually beggars or street vendors selling pens, fridge magnets, handkerchiefs, toys and more. Interestingly, most of them don’t give up till they have sold you something. Employees of small hotels nearby also turn up and open their colourful brochures with pictures of the rooms. With a diary in hand, some also do bookings or calculations and end up leading the to-be guests directly to the hotel, maybe for a quick look or instant check-in. Many ignore them, but that doesn’t make them lose their zeal.
The street photographers, however, are the most successful in attracting clients, from young couples to family groups. They wander with their latest equipment, and just one or two words get them going. They know the perfect spots for the best shots. They demonstrate one pose or the other to the couples, promising to make their pictures more engaging and romantic. It’s intriguing to note how some customers exude confidence and others shyness. After all, everyone is different. Worth admiring is the confidence and enthusiasm of these photographers — usually in their twenties or thirties — some of whom also stand out for their attire.
It’s amusing when sellers of kulfi and chilled lassi suddenly turn up; both items are sold out quickly. Within minutes, the young and the old get busy savouring the goodies. Dogs sit around, enjoying the treat in their imagination and, at times, they do get lucky. Many can be seen relishing golgappas even around 9 am — such is the fascination for them. Souvenir shop owners keep beckoning customers, announcing attractive deals.
Amid all this activity, there are many who are seated around me, glued to their phones, missing out on the ‘live exhibition’ and its many surprises. That’s why I can’t wait for the next Sunday morning to take the same table. Roy Thurston, an American artist, said, ‘The most satisfying and basic art experience is looking — pure, unmeditated observation and sensation.’ Absolutely true.
