As the sun sets and the harsh daylight softens into the glow of tube lights, the house transforms. The evening tea session is the "sabha" or court. This is where stories are exchanged. Neighbors walk in without knocking, shoes are left at the door, and plates of samosas or pakoras appear as if by magic. It is a time for collective binge-watching of daily soaps, where the villainess is collectively booed by three generations sitting on the same sofa.
In many homes, the day starts with the lighting of a diya (lamp) or an incense stick at a small home altar. As the sun sets and the harsh daylight
When the eldest son gets a promotion, the entire family celebrates. When the daughter gets married, the entire family weeps. When the grandfather dies, the entire neighborhood shows up with biscuits and condolences. There is no privacy, but there is also no loneliness. Neighbors walk in without knocking, shoes are left