Surat. Bales and bales of fabric huddled on trucks. Bhajiyas, not just onion and potatoes but also tomatoes and brinjal served hot amidst the salty coastal air. The evening bustle of the picnic by the roadside lined by food trucks. Colonial buildings in the old city echoing stories lived centuries ago.
A developing city boasting Ferrari driven wide roads but also the small town where everyone knows everyone. One of our model is our neighbour and the videographer, a school friend.
Surat is a nest that at once provides security and a launchpad for flight. We eagerly left for Mumbai to graduate only to return for weekends then and later, to start Kissa-goi. We came home.
For inspiration, we draw on the past, the present and the possibilities. Religious stories told and retold at festivals. Weekend explorations that unravel the remnants of the once bustling shipping hub or an old step well hidden in the backroom of an otherwise non-descript house. Beaches lining the western edges of the city.
Most days, it is just another city with smoke and traffic. Some days, it is frustrating with its dry state policy. And then there are days when you get all that you seek- a sunset, little rain, soft breeze and also a rainbow.
Recommendations:
For the ones visiting or planning to visit surat, our friend Siddharth Mapara shares food recommendations