A meme that says we know more about our friends settled abroad than about our next door neighbours certainly rings true. Festivals and celebrations fill that lacuna by providing occasions for people to meet and greet each other in our respective neighbourhoods. A quick look at Instagram shows how families of celebrities in Mumbai are going on late night visits to different pandals braving the festival traffic and giving their regular work schedules a break. So much so that calling Ganesh pandals the most sought-after venues for hangouts for families and friends within the localities wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Community celebrations are a common platform where we can help our neighbours forget their worries and relax for sometime.

Source: The Hindu September 08, 2016 11:26 UTC