Spirituality in the Indian lifestyle is rarely confined to a temple; it is integrated into the daily routine. Most homes have a small altar or Puja room. The lighting of an oil lamp ( diya ) in the evening is a quiet moment of reflection that signals the transition from the chaos of the day to the calm of the night.

In a home in Lucknow, 58-year-old Asha wakes up without an alarm. Her first act is practical—she touches the feet of the small Tulsi plant in the courtyard (a daily ritual for prosperity). By 5:45 AM, the pressure cooker is hissing. She is making Poha for her son who has a train to catch, while simultaneously packing theka (leftovers) for her husband’s lunch.

The boundary between “home” and “neighborhood” is blurred. The street is an extension of the living room.