Watch: What makes this slum in New Delhi so different?

Volunteers refashioned the craggy facades with murals of nature, religion and daily life

Last updated: December 05, 2019 | 14:32

AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Producer

2 MIN READ

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New Delhi: A New Delhi slum has been given a colourful makeover thanks to a street artist collective, drawing art lovers and selfie-snappers to a rundown area that they would never normally visit.

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Raghubir Nagar, like other slums in the megacity of 20 million, is home to those on the margins of Indian society, families living cheek-by-jowl in ramshackle structures often lacking basic amenities.

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But in less than a month 15 to 20 volunteers refashioned the craggy facades of nearly a hundred structures in rainbow colours with huge murals depicting nature, religion and daily life.

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"The aim was to bring some positive change and confidence in the locals, who were usually forgotten by society," Yogesh Saini, founder of Delhi Art Street told AFP.

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The initiative came about at the request of a local parliamentarian who wanted to beautify and transform the area better known for its dirt and foul smell than art.

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"We are feeling good about the change it has brought to our locality. We are seeing a lot of people coming to the settlement to take pictures," Santosh, one local resident, told AFP.

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"For the first time... we also feel equals in society," he said.

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A child peers out of her home adorned with a mural painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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A woman collects water in front of a home adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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Local residents shop from a store next to a home adorned with a mural painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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A man enters his home adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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A man stands in front of his home adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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A New Delhi slum has been given a colourful makeover thanks to a street artist collective, drawing art lovers and selfie-snappers to a rundown area that they would never normally visit

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A woman sweeps in front of her home adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum

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Children play near a mural painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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Local residents shop from a store next to a home adorned with a mural painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum

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A woman sweeps an alleyway adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group

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A woman walks past homes adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum in New Delhi

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Local residents warm up around a bonfire near homes adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group

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A woman washes utensils in front of her home adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum

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A woman steps walks up a ladder to enter her home adorned with a mural painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum

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A youth washes his face next to a closed barber shop adorned with murals painted by artists from 'Delhi Street Art' group at the Raghubir Nagar slum

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