Food and festivities: Here’s a weekly roundup of our top features from this week

As people start working on their annual tradition of setting resolutions for the year, Mumbaikars celebrate Makar Sankranti, Lohri and Pongal this weekend. City runners also dive into the culture as many ran the Mumbai marathon earlier today

With the new year comes new hopes, dreams and goals. However, they are not always easy and keeping resolutions may especially be difficult for many people. A mental health expert tells you how to follow easy resolutions that won’t be difficult to pull off and may actually help you. While resolutions may keep you busy this week, one can’t ignore how difficult it is going to be to get back to work after the holiday season concluding with New Year celebrations. Experts dissect how you can get back to work easily after your holiday travel.  
 
The winter season brings with it a mid-January festive season that have people from around India celebrating harvest festivals like Makar Sankranti, Lohri and Pongal this weekend. For many, it is the first time they are celebrating it with full fervour after the Covid-19 pandemic. Mumbaikars tell us about how they are bringing in the celebrations, as chefs share unique recipes to make with sesame and jaggery, and traditional recipes for Pongal.  
 
Amid festivities, many Mumbaikars also participated in the Mumbai marathon this weekend. Ahead of the run, we spoke to marathoners on their preparations and the culture in the city. Last but not least, we travelled all the way to South Mumbai’s Fort to visit a bookseller as he takes us down memory lane.  
 
Here is a full list of the features from this week:  
  
10 New Year's resolutions for your mental health and well-being 
Whether it was a promise to learn a new skill or eat healthier, have you been struggling to stick to your New Year resolutions? We’ve got a mental health expert to share 10 easy-to-follow resolutions that won’t be overwhelming and aid your well-being  

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Makar Sankranti 2023: Jaggery-sesame cookies? Mumbai chefs share unique recipes 
Til ladoos are everyone’s favourite. The quintessential Makar Sankranti dish is loved by one and all but there is always room to experiment. As sesame and jaggery form a very important part of the sweet, Mid-day Online asked city chefs to share recipes for dishes that people can make using them 

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Mental Wellness Month: How to cope with post-vacation blues 
Mental health expert shares 10 ways to help you return to work after your holiday travel 

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Mumbai marathon is back to claim the roads after three dismal years of pandemic 
Marathoners amount to roughly 2 per cent of the total population that wakes up in the wee hours of the day and goes out to claim the roads 

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Makar Sankranti 2023: Mumbaikars bring in celebrations with kite flying, tilgul 
This year, Makar Sankranti is going to be quite different for many Mumbaikars because they are finally going to be celebrating it in full fervour after the Covid-19 pandemic. They intend to bring it in with rituals, food and kite flying 

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Makar Sankranti 2023: This Bandra kite-maker carries on his family’s legacy 
Flying kites is synonymous with the winter harvest festival and an activity that is enjoyed by one and all during the day. Ahmed Qazi has been running his family business of making kites since 1979 and visibly enjoys every aspect of it including making them himself. Almost 50 years later after his grandfather set up shop, Qazi intends to carry on  

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Pongal 2023: Mumbai chefs share traditional Pongal recipes 
Celebrate Pongal with three traditional recipes that can be mastered at home 

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Lohri 2023: Mumbaikars embrace the festivities with revdi, gajak and boliyan 
The festival is marked with the arrival of longer days and celebrating the end of the winter solstice  
 
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Fort’s old bookstore at Flora fountain serves as a book lover’s paradise 
A resident of Lower Parel, Avadhesh harks back to the bygone days and remembers the history and evolution of his iconic shop ‘Friend’s Stall’ 

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Also Read: Meet the champions who won with record timings at the Mumbai Marathon 2023

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