Bengaluru, India’s bustling tech capital, has transformed into an almost surreal ghost town as millions of its residents departed for their hometowns to celebrate Diwali and Deepavali. The city, notorious for its crippling traffic congestion, is now experiencing an unprecedented quiet. Commuters who stayed behind are marveling at the dramatic reduction in gridlock, with some jokingly reporting 15-minute travel times to previously congested areas. This mass exodus highlights the migratory nature of Bengaluru’s population, with many observing that the city seems to be primarily inhabited by those who don’t originally hail from here. Similar scenes of deserted urban centers are being reported across major Tier-1 cities in India, including Mumbai and Delhi, during the festive period. Just days before this eerie calm, Bengaluru’s roads were choked with bumper-to-bumper traffic, with some journeys taking hours to cover mere kilometers. Officials had anticipated this surge in outbound travel, issuing advisories for major exit routes. For the few who remain, this extended festival weekend offers a rare opportunity to experience the city at a tranquil pace, a welcome change from its usual frenetic energy and constant noise.
