When you mention a lane called Mirchi Galli, one would expect to see sacks of different chillies lined up, rows of powdered spices adding a riot of colour even as the strong flavours and aromas of the spiciest chillies will clear the sinuses. Well, not quite. When you walk into Mumbai’s Mirchi Galli, nestled between Jumma Masjid and Mangaldas Market, you’ll instead spot shops selling plastic clips and hair bands for kids on one end and few of older stores selling dry fruits and spices on the other side.

The entrance to Mirchi Galli from the Mangaldas Market side. pics/Sayed sameer Abedi