Kamathipura residents offer sweets to Deepa Nandi

"On most days of the year, many of Kamathipura's bylanes get deserted after dark, but during Diwali, the entire area dons a festive look," says Deepa Nandi of Raahgeer Citywalks, which has been organising night walks in the red light district during the festival for the past three years. This year, too, the architect will conduct a trail that winds through the 14-lane maze of Kamathipura, whose residents and commercial sex workers are plagued by issues of displacement due to ongoing redevelopment.