PRAYAGRAJ:, Feb. 28 -- Shorn of curbs and crowds, it was back to life as usual for residents of Prayagraj now that the 45-day Mahakumbh has concluded and the Sangam city has returned to its normal, easy pace.

One such Sangam city resident Ravi Pandey, 46, once again feels at home in his 'mohalla' (locality). After weeks of living under self-imposed restrictions, he is now free as the barricades that dotted every crossing and were cordoned off by police and paramilitary personnel are gone.

He is now free to drive, meet friends and visit his favourite sweet shop 'Bhagwan Das Mishtaan Bhadar' nearly 300 metres away from his house to savour his favourite morning delight of "dahi-jalebi"-simple pleasures that he never could think of living w...