01 February,2016 09:03 AM IST | | Team mid-day
The city — sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Art and the goddess
The India Festival at London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has been making all the right noises in celebration of the country's arts. This is mainly because of the extensive genres covered by the exhibition, which include textiles, contemporary art and traditional art forms, jewellery and music too.
The Cloth of the Mother Goddess
One of the many exhibits at the museum was Tara Books' new textile-inspired title, The Cloth of the Mother Goddess. It tells the story of Mata-Ni-Pachedi, a travelling shrine which is a hand-painted piece of cloth created by the Vaghari community who belong to the state of Gujarat.
The stunningly crafted book has been hand-block printed on fabric and is a sequence of folding panels that offer insight into the traditions of bookmaking in Asia. The title was launched in the National Art Library at the V&A in October last year. Time to fill the shopping cart if you're looking to widen your scope while creating a book list for 2016.
A meeting of masters
Pic/Bipin Kokate
Saxophone exponent George Brooks performs alongside mandolin player U Rajesh (brother of late U Shrinivas) at a concert in Worli over the weekend.
Idhar or Udhar?
Here's a festival that hasn't just opened its doors for music buffs; it's also inviting keen folk to help set up the three-day event.
Scenes from last year's edition of The Lost Party
The Lost Party, a multi-genre festival that will be held at scenic Salter Lake in the Sahyadris on February 26-28, will showcase some of India's budding original talent as well as international acts. So whether you dig desi outfits like Big City Harmonics or Karsh Kale Soundsytem or German Electro band Moglebaum and French Trip Hop collective Chinese Man, this might make for a sweet deal.
The two main stages will be called Idhar and Udhar. Apart from the music, one can also head to a day disco, gaming arcades, pillow fights (really?), and a libraryl. With pricey tenting options, we suggest you head here, lock, stock and filled pockets too.
Now, a book on Junior Bachchan
Who would have thought that Abhishek Bachchan's life will be documented in a 200-page coffee table book.
Author Pradeep Chandra with Abhishek Bachchan
Published by Niyogi Books, Abhishek Bachchan: Style & Substance, authored by photojournalist Pradeep Chandra will include 170 photographs of the actor, illustrations and even a poem dedicated to him. Chandra had earlier written a book on his father Amitabh Bachchan by the title, The Legend, a photographer's tribute apart from a books on Aamir Khan and MF Hussain.
The book cover
There are contributions by Malavika Sangghvi, Ayaz Memon and Vikas Sinha, who wrote, The Father, The Son and Colossal Shadow, explaining why Abhishek shouldn't be compared with his father. Chandra took over two and half years to put the book together, which would be his gift to the actor on his next birthday. Something to make the actor, who is not really on a hit high, happy.
Eye in the sky
This should come as good news for astronomy buffs. Now is ideal to spot many celestial beauties. Arvind Paranjape, director, Nehru Planetarium, suggests that enthusiasts should look up the sky about an hour before sunrise. Today, it will be possible to spot Mars as it will be almost overhead.
Image courtesy/Nehru Planetarium
Though not quite a bright object, it can be identified distinctly by its red colour. A nearly half-illuminated moon can be seen right above it. On February 2, the faint red dot near the moon will be Mars, while on February 4, the dot next to moon will be Saturn.
On February 6, the moon will be beside Venus, and below it will be a faint dot, which is Mercury. Jupiter can be seen well above the Western horizon. It will be the brightest body in that part of the sky.
Mixingit up
Last weekend witnessed the unveiling of the fourth edition of a Mixed Martial Arts league at Mahalaxmi's Famous Studios. The league will bring 14 fighters together who will contest from seven regions including Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata.
