A new school, bhajans and cricket on menu

Sopan Mare, the guest at the royal wedding, heads the Mumbai Tiffin Box Supplier’s Association. ‘‘My people back home have never seen a plane,’’ he said on Saturday, the eve of the dabbawala’s festival. ‘‘I told them London was nice, but our village is vasant bhoomi (the land of spring).’’

And Mare’s village is also celebrating the addition of a school at this year’s fest. ‘‘We will inaugurate the new building given to us by the government during our festival,’’ said Mare, anxiously supervising its whitewash.

Far away from the Mares, in Audar in Khed, the Medges have already kickstarted the festival. The jangle of the manjira (cymbals) at the temple will be heard long into the night, until the keertan competition ends.

‘‘Twelve teams have already finished,’’ said Sabaji Medge, seated in a front of a tiny stage on which at least 20 men and women are huddled in front of a mike.

Kailash Medge (22) looks disinterested. He’s just waiting for the cricket match the next day. ‘‘We’ll use a tennis ball,’’ said the Sehwag fan.

Away from the grind, most dabbawalas admit that they’d switch city for village in a heartbeat. ‘‘We shifted because we weren’t earning enough here,’’ said Janku Medge (49). ‘‘We only get enough water to grow one crop a year, and that’s not enough. But we miss the fresh air.’’