Kids were play-fighting with swords. Loud firecrackers and jumping jacks were firing away. Large stalls were set up along the route with free food. The crowds were thick, hands full of aluminum and leaf-made bowls of dal, chickpeas and rice were fighting for handouts. We were offered some, but refused. Large pots of chickpeas, chapati, cauliflower were brewing on the side of the road. Assembly lines were balling and rolling out dough for chapatis. Trash was everywhere. The empty, or sometimes full bowls of food were just tossed aside. In a country full of starving people, we were walking in food.
What was going on ? We never figured it out. Looked like some sort of a Sikh procession. Mary had a good idea - They may have been politicians trying to buy votes.
Chandri Chowk ends at the Fatehpuri Masjid and the parade snaked to the right and continued onto Khari Baoli road - The Khari Baoli Bazaar. THIS was why I came to India. This is said to be the home of the BIGGEST spice market in the world. The street is lined with spice shops selling from large burlap sacks (50-100lbs?). What did I see and smell ? Whole cumin, card
amom, coriander, cloves and dries red peppers were out in the open for merchants to feel, taste and s
mell. The atmosphere was overwhelming and with the peppers, suffocating. Wayne lead us into a dark and narrow alleyway that opened up 
to a courtyard. Large carts of burlap sacks were filled with dried red chillies. The second floor had more chillies and also people sorting out nuts and vendors were selling large containers of cooking oil. A chai wallah was selling chai from a large stove. The floors above looked like apartments.
