Game On! How Mumbai’s Youngsters Outplay the City’s Crowds

In the heart of Mumbai, where every inch of space is fiercely contested, the city’s children and families are proving that play is unstoppable. Despite one of the world’s lowest ratios of open space per capita, Mumbai’s young residents ingeniously transform whatever corners they can find-be it cramped alleys, busy streets, or dusty fields-into makeshift playgrounds. In such suburbs as Mankhurd, children come together to play cricket on abandoned pieces of land, usually surrounded by dangers but abetted by the passion for the game and a desire for freedom.

 

For the fortunate, a developing chain of indoor play areas and adventure parks-from Purple Panda and Happy Planet to Bounce Trampoline Park-provides secure, lively venues for exercise and entertainment. City parks such as Kamla Nehru Park and Priyadarshani Park, however, remain beloved havens, offering needed green respite and space to run around. Malls and entertainment centers have also risen to the occasion, incorporating play zones and family-friendly attractions to fill the increasing demand.

 

However, for some, the fight for space continues, particularly for girls, who lose play opportunities as they mature because of concerns about safety. Community activists and NGOs are insisting on more inclusive, accessible public play spaces, aware that in Mumbai, the play spirit always manages to survive-even when chances are against them.

 

Source: Global Voices, Secret Mumbai, Angel Playground, Agoda