You tend to fret even if someone crosses your parking line. Delhi has one the highest vehicle densities in the cities of the world. With 1,400 cars getting added to the traffic every day in Delhi, our possessiveness about parking space is not unjustified. Petty brawls over parking are common. In the neighborhoods a game of musical chairs, or cars in this case, is a given for the evening as residents shift their cars from one elusive empty slot to another, trying to land the most convenient and safe spot.
Given Delhi’s proximity to the Himalayan foothills and the love of self-drive tours that Delhiites have, most of us are seen heading to the hills for weekend getaways and vacations. Agra for the Taj Mahal and Jaipur for forts, museums and cultural markets are places we love. Also, the Delhi-Jaipur highway with its various ‘havelis’ (palaces) transformed into exotic hotels has recently emerged as a favorite hotspot for Delhiites eager to experience royal living and relaxation.
The idea of using public transport seems alien to you. The Delhi metro (mass rapid transport system) has been a recent addition to the city. While most Delhiites can’t help bragging about its cleanliness and punctuality, we find it hard to actually step out of the comfort of driving to work or elsewhere in our cars or rickshaws.
And you totally want to attend their annual cultural festivals. Every year thousands of ambitious students aspire to get admission here. What follows post the admission process are three fun-filled years of which the annual cultural festival is one of the most awaited events. This event spanning over two to three days acts has various musical events, ranging from Sufi to pop and rock-n-roll, literary events, fashion shows, theatre and dance.
Finding way amidst the hustle-bustle of crowded open markets, the intense bargaining and the every now-and-then halt at street food vendors — all this contributes to the shopping experience that most of us Delhiites would prefer compared to the organized and comfortable shopping in malls. We love to watch our favorite vanilla or chocolate ice cream cone being swirled by a local vendor in the street market compared to exotic flavours being scooped out by gloved helpers at fancy ice cream parlours in the mall.
And winter lasts barely for 2-3 months, but you still love splurging on wool clothing. Between mid-November and February, you can plan day trips, picnics, barbeques, weddings or simply bask in the winter sun. Also, the idea of driving on cold foggy mornings or nights with visibility as low as 50 metres is all it takes to give us Delhiites an adrenaline rush.
It doesn’t matter if you are a foodie looking for dried fruits or spices, a book lover looking for your next read, or an architecture connoisseur who appreciates the mosques such as Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, you love the densely populated market of Old Delhi, which has been around for more than three centuries.
Given the vast and diverse landscape of India, there is a tendency to create misconceptions about other parts of the country. People from northeast are different in their physical appearance and unfortunately are sometimes referred to as strangers in north India. Similarly, people from states in southern part of India are also misunderstood by Delhites when it comes to language. This lack of awareness can be attributed to our own lethargy in understanding the myriad regional differences, as well as the stereotyping of cultures done in Indian movies.
Hindi and English are the languages used commonly in Delhi, though the correct usage of both is seldom known to local people. A new hybrid language has evolved called ‘Hinglish,’ which mixed with the local slang and accent which we call ‘Dilli,’ acts as the means of expression for most Delhiites. 