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

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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