India, Nov. 12 -- Kamani Auditorium is at Mandi House, Delhi's theatre district. It routinely stages dramas, musicals, concerts, and sometimes meet-the-author sessions. At this time of year, a tall floss-silk tree, or kurayjia, is staging its own quiet drama right beside Kamani's black-painted gate-see photo. In its annual bloom, the tree is performing this late afternoon with hardly an audience.

Kamani's setting otherwise is familiar to any New Delhi aficionado. A broad avenue, leafy trees, relative quietude. Yellow-and-green autos phatphating along the avenue. Plus the facades of cultural institutions. A poster is announcing an evening of live ghazals with singer-composer Sanjoy Ghosh.

Then you look up at the pink.

Flowers spread acr...