Showers of blessings
On a rainy All Soul’s Day, a loved one offers flowers at a grave in Sewri Christian Cemetery on Sunday
Take a bow-wow
Pari with her caretaker at the event in Thane. PIC COURTESY/CAP MUMBAI
Showstoppers came wagging their tails in ethnic attire at a unique fashion show in Thane last weekend. Organised by local animal welfare group, Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP), the post-Diwali bash saw pet parents, animal lovers, and local small businesses join hands to spotlight displaced pets that are waiting for a new home. “Diwali usually spells distress and panic for the city’s animals. Our aim was to give them a Diwali that brings light and joy into their life. The response from Thanekars was overwhelming,” Pranav Trivedi, president of CAP, revealed to us. Those keen to adopt the four-legged stunners can reach out to 9324610601.
Stories in the city
A performer at a previous open mic. PICS COURTESY/STORYTENT
Residents of Thane, Kalyan, Dombivli, and other nearby areas, will soon have the opportunity to pour their hearts out onstage. At their inaugural event in Thane later this month, the StoryTent community will open its doors to storytellers and poets.
In a conversation, founder Anusri Venkatesh (above) shared, “While we have hosted open mics across the country, it’s our first time experimenting in Mumbai and its suburbs. The aim is to help writers commercialise their talent. We also hold virtual open mics regularly. We plan to make this a series in Mumbai, held roughly twice a month.” Those keen to know more can log on to @storytent_in.
Mizoram canvas call
A mural painted by Siddhesh Sapte aka NME in Andheri. PICS COURTESY/NME
Mumbai-based graffiti artist NME aka Siddhesh Sapte, is packing his spray cans, and jetting off to Mizoram to participate in the 3rd World Graffiti Jam in Zotlang, Aizawl, on November 14 and 15. The flagship event will bring together graffiti artists from across India to collaborate and create new works on-site.
The artist, known for painting larger-than-life murals on buildings in Mumbai, told us, “I’m looking forward to travelling across states with the message of unity. My peers from across the country are excited to make art together. While I’m still brainstorming, I’ll definitely leave my letters [initials, NME] there. It’s my way of reminding the world, ‘I was here.’ I’m also planning to incorporate a character inspired by the local culture of Mizoram.”
Mumbai hand in Lucknow’s UNESCO win
Chef Hardayal Maurya, the man behind the popular Basket Chat at the historic Royal Cafe in Lucknow. PIC COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
In June this year, this diarist had written about multiple award-winning city-based conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah (right), who along with her firm had prepared the proposal for Lucknow to be considered as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The dossier, prepared by ANL Associates, was submitted by the Government of India to UNESCO. Back then, she was confident that Lucknow would win, “I am confident. Lucknow has a strong case on its own merit, and should go through because it supports a large community for their livelihoods, from the local chaatwalla and kulfiwalla to home kitchens.”
Now, we are delighted to learn that Lucknow has been conferred with the prestigious honour. Hailing this recognition, she told us, “I am thrilled with the UNESCO recognition of Lucknow as a Creative City of Gastronomy. Lucknow’s gastronomic traditions are evocative of its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb — a syncretic culture of many traditions — Hindu and Muslim, Indic Persian — seen in its art, literature, but especially in its rich and varied cuisine.” Not a bad time to plan that gastronomic holiday to Lucknow, we’d say.
