Scent of Mumbai

*Sniff* *Sniff* *Aachoo...*

The most ignored sensory organ for most of us and yet sometimes it functions surprisingly. The role of the nose is noticed, when there is some intense scent that actuates it.

I call it the most ignored cause even if your sense of smell is not functional, no one bothers about it, unless the nose is entirely missing, like that of Voldemort or Tyrion (from the books).

This post should have been out a few weeks back, but excuse my indolence.

So a few weeks back, there were 3 festivities in Mumbai.

To start with, there was Ganesh chaturthi/visarjan. Each house or mandal(committee) that hosted the elephant god was filled with the scent of various agarbattis(incense sticks), heightened during the time of pooja(prayers). This bore a sense of positivity to almost all.

The next thing to be noticed was the staunch smell of goats being cared for, before the advent of Eid ka chand(crescent moon). Some like it, others despise it, but every non-vegetarian loves the end product of this feast. The aroma of cooked mutton, flowing out of every Muslim household. Mmm...

Finally, the 9 days of preparation for the nativity of Mother Mary. Every church that bore the name of Mary/Our Lady was lined with devotees carrying garlands. It is said that Mary loved flowers, and so the fragrance of many flowers, weaved were brought and sold, outside churches. Sweet.

Such was the beauty of Mumbai that one could observe with their nose only. Probably, this was also the scene through most of India.

Apart from festivities, each place has its own smell. The thing with Mumbai is, it smells of garbage and shit, during most of the days. All you need to do to notice this is step out of the comfort of the houses and travel without the AC's, and within a span of 2 kms you will have it right up your noses. If not then either you are lucky enough or just accustomed to notice it.

This is one thing that I hope changes for the good of all our noses.