A rickshaw driver cycles past homes adorned with murals by the 'Delhi Street Art' group
A rickshaw driver cycles past homes adorned with murals by the 'Delhi Street Art' group AFP / Sajjad HUSSAIN

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.

Raghubir Nagar, like other slums in the megacity of 20 million, is home to those on the margins of Indian society
Raghubir Nagar, like other slums in the megacity of 20 million, is home to those on the margins of Indian society. A gunman who held children hostage for over 9 hours has been shot dead by Indian police. AFP / Sajjad HUSSAIN

"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.