Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Pic/Atul Kamble

Circle of frenzy

Youngsters dressed in traditional Navratri attire play garba at a venue in Thane West

From court to ramp

(From left) Tanvi Khanna, Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal walk the ramp for Gauri and Nainika Karan

The ongoing Lakmé Fashion Week in New Delhi saw some new faces kill it on the ramp on day three. Among the models for Delhi-based designers Gauri and Nainika Karan were members of India's national squash team who recently returned victorious with medals from the 19th Asiad. Nainika Karan shared, "Gauri and I felt that it would be a refreshing change and interesting to have them walk the ramp. The team includes four women in a sport like squash that does not get enough attention." There's a personal reason too. The youngest member, 15-year-old talent Anahat Singh, is Nainika's niece from her husband's side. Syncing with the sporty theme, the designers created comfortable apparel to suit their models. "We had them walk in white trainers. We also had T-shirts from our Spring Summer 24 collection. We put them in some big skirts that were glamorous-feminine, and true to our design philosophy," she shared with this diarist.

When chef Gary came visiting

Chef Lakhan Jethani, chef Gary Mehigan and Vedant Malik

Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, of MasterChef Australia fame, was recently spotted at Bandra's Mizu. "The humble chef had heard about the restaurant on his last trip to India, but couldn't visit that time. So, he made sure to stop by this time," said Vedant Malik, owner of the eatery. Chef Lakhan Jethani, for whom, this was a like a dream, said, "He left the ordering part to me, and we served him delicacies like cold fresh seaweed salad, salmon yuzu truffle, king trumpete yakitori with yuzu kosho brown butter, torro tuna tar tare with mizu izakaya fried bread filled with mentaiko, matcha misu and chestnut ice cream," he told us. This diarist learnt that Mehigan loved the torro tuna tar tare.

Classic notes on campus

"Modern music can survive in the new age that we're approaching, but Indian classical music will survive in today's world with patronage," Dr Vidyadhar Vyas (inset), dean, Maya Somaiya School of Music and Performing Arts, admitted to us, while revealing the thought behind the Somaiya Music Festival that will take place October 19 and 20. It will feature performances by Dr Rahul Prakash, Pandit Vivek Sonar and Meeta Pandit, among other Indian classical musicians. The Somaiya Vidyavihar University campus will be the venue for this festival. Vyas elaborated that it will be an ode to Maya Somaiya of the Somaiya family, who he described as a musical soul. "While we are open to other music forms, upholding Indian classical music heritage will remain at the core of our vision," he told this diarist.

Mumbaikars get on board

Participants play Wingspan at the club. Pic courtesy/Instagram

Turns out, Mumbaikars absolutely love playing board games and trying different ones at that. This passion is so apparent that the Bombay Boardgame Club, a space in Vile Parle where people get together to play with fellow game-lovers, has to keep the club open on all seven days. "We kept our club open on Fridays and weekends, and noticed that a lot of people wanted to come on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we adapted to that too.

However, for the last three months clients have been requesting to keep the club open even on a Monday, so that they can play!" says an ecstatic Ronak Chitalia (below), founder of the club. This, he attributes to the fact that people are looking for more and better options to experiences beyond clubbing, partying or movies. "There have been so many days, when people have continued playing games till the wee hours," he shares. Catan, Wingspan, Age of War, Splendor and In Front of the Elevator are some of our most popular board games, this diarist was informed. To join them, check @bombayboard gameclub.

Let's do it for the raptors

(From left) Illustration of a brown fish-owl by Ananya S for the prompt hunting; a red-tailed hawk by Mansi Singh around the theme flight, for Raptober. Illustrations courtesy/WWFINDIA

Giving a twist to Inktober, WWF-India initiated a month-long engaging social media campaign called Raptober, where they invited artists from diverse backgrounds to create raptor-themed artworks throughout this month. "Artists have been responding to the weekly prompts related to raptors, such as their behaviours, habitats, and conservation challenges. These artworks are then shared on various social media platforms, celebrating the beauty and significance of these birds of prey," said Rinkita Gurav, manager, Raptor Conservation Programme.

Rinkita Gurav

She adds that raptors are magnificent birds that play a vital role in maintaining the balance of various ecosystems and act as indicators of healthy ecosystems. "By focusing on them, the aim is to highlight their significance, educate the public about their unique traits, and address the conservation issues they face," she told this diarist. Raptober aimed to reach people through beautiful artwork and create a community passionate about wildlife conservation.