Colours of a city
A crowd on a shopping spree moves in a frenzy at the flower market outside Dadar station
Style meets substance for a cause
Glamour met goodwill as the 13th Annual MCAN Charity Gala lit up the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, last weekend. Glittering gowns, dazzling diamonds, and heartfelt generosity came together to raise an impressive Rs 4.28 crore in support of underprivileged cancer patients through the Maheka Mirpuri Cause-Aid Network (MCAN), hosted by Karan Johar (below, right).
Maheka Mirpuri (centre) at the Charity Gala. Pics courtesy/Maheka Mirpuri
The city’s finest and most stylish lent their star power to the cause — Gulshan Grover, Madhoo Shah, Mansi Scott, Daisy Shah, Shaina NC, Poonam Dhillon, Sunil Gavaskar, Ramesh Sippy, Jimmy Mistry, and Madhur Bhandarkar, among others. Designer Maheka Mirpuri (below) shone brighter than ever — not just for her style, but for her compassion. What began as a heartfelt tribute to her late father has evolved into one of Mumbai’s most anticipated galas, where fashion, philanthropy, and purpose unite in perfect harmony.
“Every year, the MCAN Gala reminds me how collective compassion can transform lives. What began as a personal mission is now a movement of courage, empathy, and hope. Raising over Rs 4.28 crores this year is a testament to what happens when fashion and philanthropy walk hand in hand,” she shared. Karan Johar added, “This event is deeply personal. I understand the emotional and physical challenges patients and their families face. Joining Maheka for the third year in a row has been an honour. The impact of the funds raised here will change lives. I urge everyone to support such initiatives and give hope to those who need it most.”
The charity auction added extra sparkle to the evening, featuring Sanuj Birla’s Frida Love and Love Lock Birkin sculptures, Renu Oberoi’s yellow sapphire pavé hoops, Sanjay Arora’s Sansaar living room setup, and Mahesh Notandass’s blue-stone choker. In a powerful show of generosity, Piloo Tata made the highest open-bid donation of the night, truly embodying the spirit of giving, and making a difference.
Faking a wedding ceremony, almost
A dance session held at an actual wedding previously conducted by the hosts. Pics courtesy/Alistair Dsouza
Mumbaikars had the chance to experience the vibrancy of a Catholic wedding at an event on October 20 at Malad Gymkhana, except, sans the bride and groom. The ‘fake wedding’ introduced attendees to a typical Catholic wedding. Host Alistair Dsouza (below) told this diarist, “It’s the first time we’re holding such an event, for which we’ve started a platform, NoVowsOnlyWows. The event includes music, dance, including the Jive, a wedding march, and various food options, all representing what a Catholic wedding could have. We want to host such an event every six months, preferably on public holidays.”
The Ramayana gets a manga makeover
The illustration of Ayodhya Kandam, depicting Rama’s departure to the forest and the ensuing anguish. Pic and Illustration courtesy/Doodle Mapuls
This Diwali, city-based art studio Doodle Mapuls is retelling the Ramayana through a series of illustrations, one for each Kandam (chapter) of the epic. Kirthi Pillai, one of the artists, told this diarist, “Ideation, drawing, making the collage per Kandam, takes about three days.
Kirthi Pillai
Scenes of tension and transition are highlighted in red.” She added, “We’re illustrating the story in manga style, and want to compile this as a souvenir book after we are done, for those unfamiliar with the epic.”
Beyond cricket at Shivaji Park
An earlier session by Yooti Bhansali in Bandra. Pic courtesy/@y00ti
Curator Yooti Bhansali (right) will host Mumbai’s newest silent reading community, Shivaji Park Reads.
“With the construction and traffic plaguing the city, people crave [green and quiet] space. I don’t want to travel to Bandra or Churchgate for the next read,” the Shivaji Park-Oshiwara resident said. To learn about their next session, readers can follow @shivajiparkreads.
