Life in the City
Allahabadis are very outgoing and like to be busy doing something or the other, whether it is indulging in sport, eating street food or just shopping. Festivals are looked forward to as a time for celebration and getting together with family and friends. Culture as in the arts, music, dance and poetry recitations are patronised by Allahabadis who can expect a stimulating cultural calendar year after year.
Festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor especially Diwali and Ram Navami. The entire city goes into celebration mode with festive lighting and colorful decorations. Families and friends gather together to make merry, distributing sweets and indulging in community celebrations. Allahabadis also look forward to the annual Magh Mela when the city attracts lakhs of pilgrim from all over India and tourists from different parts of the world. This is a time when the entire city gears up to play host and a huge temporary city comes up on the banks of the Ganga.
Allahabadis love to go shopping and every weekend sees families out shopping for everyday household items as well as clothes, jewellery and gifts. They usually head out to Chowk, Civil Lines, Georgetown and various malls that have come up recently including Vinayak City Centre, Atlantis Mall, Vinayak City Square, Vinayak Solitare and P Square Mall. They relish striking bargains in areas such as Chowk as well as picking out items at brand stores in Civil Lines.
Eating out is a popular pastime in Allahabad. From street food to restaurants, options are available to suit every pocket. Mughlai food is relished most here along with various vegetarian specialities. Street food options include a variety of delicious chaats and various other savoury snacks and sweets including jalebis, kulfi and falooda. The typical connoisseur of Allahabadi food makes a beeline for Loknath Galli in Chowk to sample the fare on offer from one end of the street to another, relishing various specialities along the way. Fast food restaurants serving pizzas and burgers are also present here as well as restaurants serving popular south Indian specialities such as masala dosa. Indian Coffee House is an institution where locals and visitors can take a break sipping filter coffee along with bites of sandwiches, omelets, cutlets and dosas.
