New Delhi, March 17 -- At 10 pm on a Monday night-the 27th night of Ramadan 2026-the narrow lanes and bylanes of Zakir Nagar are buzzing with activity, as crowds spill out for late-night shopping and street food. Twinkling garlands, hanging fairy lights, and illuminated crescents adorned with rice lights hanging between buildings or wrapped around trees add to the festive ambience ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr later this week.

Mohammad Salman, a middle-aged worker at one of the many roadside eateries, is busy plating biryani as his staff serve customers seated inside the basement dining area.

"Bhai aaj dukaan kholi hai, cylinder ka jugaad kar liya itne din baad (I opened shop today after many days. I finally managed to get a LPG cylinder," says ...