Shopping on Laxmi Road

Today, my Michigan friends (J and Cindy) and I went shopping on Laxmi Road. It was so beautiful to see all the steel and copper vessels nestled among the colorful sarees and bangle bracelets. We also hit up Mandai Market for lemons, and I finally found my auto-rickshaw toy!

We enter a narrow passageway off Laxmi Road to wander through the maze of shops . . .

Above the doorway, you can see some wildflowers growing . . .

We stop to snap some quick photos of me and Lord Ganesha.

J and I stop to pose on the busy road as we hunt for a toy shop.

We pass some flower stalls on the way. I wanted to take some photos of the beautiful flowers, but the women are very shy and ask me not to take any photos. However, I did snap a quick photo of these garlands that were recently strung.

Some other flower stalls . . . And busy Laxmi Road.

Yea, we finally find the toy shop! (You can also tell from my hair that it is extremely humid and sticky outside today.)

And, I purchase these awesome toy auto-rickshaws! They even have little drivers inside that can raise their arms up and down.

We cross the street to Mandai Market in search of lemons.

I inquire about the price for artichokes . . .

People are starting to walk into Pune this week for a 14 day celebration/pilgrimage for Lord Vitthal.

Outside Mandai Market, a man sees my camera and coerces me to come over and look at his party hats. He is also selling those multicolored piles of chalk dusk to make Rangoli, or the Indian welcome sign you will see outside the doors of many homes.

And here I am in the party hat . . .

A woman showed us how to make a Rangoli using multicolored chalk and a template. I think Paul and I will get one for Diwali.