The kawariyas chant their standard refrain, "Bam Lahiri" and "Bol Bam," as they approach the "Sadbhavna Camp," a camp for kanwars. But something is different at this specific camp.
A group of guys hold rose petals in their palms as they wait at the entrance to the camp, dressed in white kurtas and skull caps.
"Our Kanwariya brothers are coming, welcome them, greet them, salute them," a guy declares. "Hamare kawariya bhai aa rahe hain, unka swagat kariye, unko namaste kariye, unko salaam kijiye."
The guys lift their arms and toss the rose petals into the air as the kanwariyas pass the camp.
For example, they chant, "Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Isai, aapas mein hain hum sab bhai-bhai... Hindustan zindabad, Hindustan ki ekta zindabad (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, we are all brothers... Long live India, long live the unity of India)."
The kanwariyas slow down momentarily as the petals fall on them, perplexed. The others then join in the cheer, "Jai Bholenath."
Seelampur MLA Zubair Chaudhary has set up a blue-and-white fabric tent inside the camp, providing shade, fruits, cold water, and soft beverages. "Sadbhavna Camp mein aap sabhi kanwariyon ka hardik swagat" is written on a sign outside.
The camp was initially established in 1994 in an effort to lessen local communal discord. Chaudhary's father, Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed, a five-term Congress MLA, took the initiative.
Muslims have been showering kanwariyas with rose petals for 31 years, but the family has recently switched to the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of this year's Delhi elections.