GONE ARE the days when you were greeted by ‘Mukuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain,’ while landing at Lucknow. Instead typical Lukhnawai Adaab is today replaced with Hi. The Lukhnawai kurta pajaama makes way for jeans and modern dresses. Yes, the popular culture of an urban Lucknowite is now the trendy western dress code. 

 

Look around you and you will see that the face of Lucknow is changing, keeping pace with the altering times. The erstwhile city of Nawabs has picked up the finest of traditions and given a contemporary twist, re-inventing itself to emerge with a discerning adaptability, one that embraces only the best of contemporary trends.

 

While ‘feel good’ is the buzz there is a greater focus on consumerism with looking and feeling good are becoming mantras for living today with a string of luxury cars flooding the city roads, companies luring people with foreign holidays and all the brands available on the racks. The mall culture and retail boom are re-inventing the face of Lucknow making it an urban utopia.

 

With the opening of several swanky new malls in Lucknow, with more in the pipeline, boasting of designer labels, hypermarkets – all under one roof, shopping has never been a more pleasurable experience for Lucknowites. “It’s amazing how fast Lucknow is changing. Previously I would head for the metros for my favorite brands and for that elusive shopping experience in the fabulous malls but now I have everything in my hometown",Says Poonam Joshi. Air-conditioned shopping space, top quality brands, plush multiplexes and food courts – Apna Lucknow has it all – right here, right now.

 

Multiplexes have radically transformed Lucknow’s movie watching culture. The massive queues have all but disappeared, as have gangs of mosquitoes and broken seats with tobacco stains. Agrees Jafar, a senior executive working for a multinational said, "With facilities such as online booking and Gold Lounges, Lucknowites have come a long way from the sweaty queues outside Novelty or Sahu".You have multiplexes and shopping malls like The East End Mall (Waves), Saharaganj and Fun Republic where you will almost find no space. It is a good passing time to roam around and have fun, remarks Anamika.

 

Coffee on the rocks, flashy mobikes, downing pizzas and burgers, jazzy mobiles, bowling a perfect whammy, hanging out at snazzy cyber cafes and strumming a guitar at cool café – this is GenX of Lucknow for you.

 

As the new face of Lucknow is being defined by coffee bars, the culture vulture never had it so good with the menu including dollops of art, theatre and fashion served up in congenial surroundings. So besides coffee, these cafes offer you an experience.

 

And what is interesting is that the city which is so synonymous to its culinary like Lucknow’s famous Shami,the ’Tunda Kabob’. ’Kulcha-Nihari’ Biryani, Paya and Halim are available at all these modern shopping malls. They have their outlets everywhere and you can have the feel of typical Lucknow. The presentation has certainly changed to feel the modern Lucknow.

 

 

The urban Lucknowites also know how to let their hair down and party if the Page-3 parties in the city are anything to go by. With themes ranging from Carribean Nights to Indian Weddings, at swanky lounges and prominent hotels, ApnaLucknowites are party-hearties. From Teej celebrations to a recently held wine fest which boasted of everything from wine, cakes and chocolates to wine pani puris, they really don’t need a reason to party anymore!

Some might say that Lucknow has moved miles away from the graceful Tehzib of the ‘Pehle aap’ generation, to the step-aside, grab-it-all fast lane – the jazzy cars and snazzy styles. Perhaps only time will tell what’s our loss and what’s our gain!