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Easter 2025: Enjoy these delicious food menus in Mumbai this week
Home rule dining Pics Courtesy/Freny's The comfort of a homely dinner meets the deliciousness of refined cuisine at chef Freny Fernandes' eponymous Bandra hotspot in her roast stuffed chicken and special Pastel de Nata. ON April 19, 7 pm to 1 am; April 20, 11.30 am to 4 pm, 7 pm to 1 amAT Freny’s, Waterfield Road, Bandra West. CALL 7039012123 Sculpted delights Pic Courtesy/Tojours If you crave for the yummiest Easter eggs, this patisserie has you covered. From handcrafted marzipan eggs to joyfully designed chocolate bunnies, founder and chef Alpa Pereira’s curation will add a smile to your celebrations.AT Toujours, 126, Andheri Industrial Estate, off Veera Desai Road, Andheri West. CALL 9867676070 COST Rs 350 onwards Go Goan Pics Courtesy/O Pedro The season for bingeing can never be complete without a Goan/Portuguese feast. Sample your pick from pork ribs vindaloo, chicken cafreal meatballs (right) or the stuffed fried kukul cannoli (below) at this Easter Feaster.On April 19 and 20; 12 noon to 1 amAT O Pedro, Jet Airways-Godrej building, BKC.CALL 7506525554 All-day binge Pic Courtesy/Olive bar and Kitchen Step into this Bandra haunt for a diverse all-day binge from herb roasted baby pumpkins (below) to eggs benedict and lamb kefte nests.FROM April 18 to 20; 12 pm onwards AT Olive Bar & Kitchen, 14, Union Park, Bandra West.CALL 7208478228 Oriental brunch Pic Courtesy/Hakkasan Head over to this familiar Bandra venue for a taste of their five-course festive menu featuring delights like the edamame truffle dumpling and a special Easter golden egg dessert.ON April 20; 12 pm to 3.15 pmAT Hakkasan, Krystal Building, Waterfield Road, Bandra West.CALL 8355878888COST Rs 4,143 (per person) Unwind with class Pic Courtesy/Someplace else A crispy lotus stem with honey and chilli can be the perfect precursor to this Easter brunch. Try their curated mimosas and decadent lemon cheesecake to finish.ON April 20; 12 pm to 4 pmAT Someplace Else, level 2, Jio World Drive, BKC. CALL 8356984990 Brunch across the lake The comforting view of the lake and a delicious spread from Indian favourites like kombdicha rassa, malwani prawn curry to traditional Easter delights like hot cross buns make it a filling one.ON April 20; 12.30 pm to 4 pmAT Lake View Café, The Westin Mumbai, Powai. CALL 8657415264COST Rs 3,499 onwards (non-alcoholic); Rs 4,499 onwards (alcoholic) Suburban joy Step away from the city for a customised special from braided Easter egg breads, to French macarons and chicken quiches.AT Once More Bakery, near Giriz church, Vasai West.CALL 9096111284 Egg-stravagant celebrations Pic Courtesy/Poco Loco Aside from their delicious ham empanadas and fried egg tacos or the more vegetarian jackfruit burrito, this menu is accompanied by a paint-your-own-egg station for fun.FROM April 18 to 20; 12 pm onwardsAT Poco Loco Tapas and Bar, ground floor, 21st road, Khar West.CALL 9324191366COST Rs 1,499 onwards Chocolate ecstasy Pics Courtesy/L&S Bistro Try the delicate scallop and shrimp scaloppini or the offbeat Alphonso quinoa salad from this curated menu for a festive change.ON April 20; 12 pm onwardsAT L&S Bistro, Intercontinental, Churchgate. CALL 9322854849 Order in Pic Courtesy/Gables >> The old favouriteGet your festive orders quickly at this Lamington Road icon with their chocolate walnut easter eggs, bebincas, plum cakes and of course, signature stuffed roast chicken.AT Gables, Glamour building, Colaba Causeway, Colaba.CALL 9224269773 >> Central styleIf decadence is your style, try out this elegant curation of desserts shaped to suit the occasion.AT Philomene Maison du patisserie LOG ON TO philomene.mini.storeCOST Rs 354 onwards Pic Courtesy/Thevillageshop >> Healthy delightsFrom organic and vegan options to decadent chocolate eggs, this cutesy patisserie could be your go-to solution for gifting this season.AT The Village Shop, Bandra West. CALL 987039948LOG ON TO @thevillageshop
16 April,2025 09:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Attend this two-day wellness festival in Mumbai to refresh your mind
With the world changing at an alarming pace, and lifestyles evolving to accommodate the need of a fast-paced, highly functional, quick gratification system — matters of the body and mind can often take a backseat. Bringing a whole set of wellness methods and modalities to Mumbaikars, the second edition of the India Soul Fest this weekend promises a soothing interlude from the structural chaos of the world. From holistic healing methods like breathwork sessions, sound therapy and energy healing, to specialised zones and arenas that provide a deep dive into the ideas and concepts of wellness, the festival is a one-stop getaway to recover and re-energise yourself. Kinjal Makwana, the curator of the festival tells us, “It was during the pandemic, when everything had kind of slowed down that I figured time for myself and explored wellness avenues. I started to learn more about spirituality, manifestation, energy healing and it put things into perspective for me.” Inspired by the wellness festivals of the West, primarily in California and Mexico, Makwana decided to bring a similar experience to Indians through the fest. (From left) A child doodles on a board at the fest; a tarot card reader offers insights into destiny-related questions; participants engage in a movement workshop at a previous edition of the festival The festival is divided into zones and sections where experts will interact with participants on specific healing practices. Enter the Mindful Arena to listen to wellness thought leaders Namrata Mane and Maitreyi Gayatri discuss mindfulness and inner peace or attend a unique shankhnaad (conch shell) workshop with Arpit Singh. If you are someone who finds it easy to unwind with artistic tools, city-based art therapist Lavanya Rastogi’s simple, introspective workshops are where you might want to head. For those who prefer to take a mystic route to understand the power of energy healing can pop into the Oracle Oasis to know their destiny with a carefully curated line-up of divinatory practices like tarot reading, coffee ground interpretation, angel card, crystal healing, and Pranic healing. “These methods are basically intuitive readings where the experts offer advice and guidance based on your energy. This won’t help if you are not willing to work on yourself though,” Makwana cautions. The Zen Den, as the name suggests explores therapeutic practices such as inner child healing, sound bath, Himalayan Kriya chanting and meditation to provide relief from stress and deal with issues related to trauma. “Be it managing work, family or dealing with personal problems, it is important to recognise the value of healing and self-love in a world that can easily get overwhelming. It is more important than ever now,” she observes. With a flea market full of handcrafted trinkets, essential oils and wellness products to a food fair hosting a delish line-up of healthy and nutritious bites, the fest might just be the fulfilling weekend escape you are looking for. ON April 19 and 20; 2 pm to 10 pmAT Phoenix Palladium, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel. LOG ON TO district.inENTRY Rs 100 onwards
16 April,2025 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha Panda
This new book uses written letters to teach children about deep friendships
Letters come with the promise of intimacy and privacy. They allow us to open up in ways that we wouldn’t otherwise. “I’m a big letter-writer,” says children’s author Varsha Seshan. Her new book, The Wall Friends Club (HarperCollins Children’s Books), uses the epistolary form to narrate the story of two girls, Sriya and Anandi, aged nine and 10, from their points of view. The two grow up in different environments, but develop instant fondness for each other through letters. They reveal their names, share their secrets, recount everyday classroom drama and stories of bullies, and suggest cool ideas for each other’s class projects. Varsha Seshan “I have loved writing letters in my childhood,” shares Seshan. “I used to have pen pals as a child. That’s quite outdated now because of security.” She recalls a time when it felt safe to do so. “As a child, I had subscribed to the children’s edition of the nature and wildlife conservation magazine Sanctuary Asia, called Sanctuary Cub, which had a page with names and addresses of people. When I think about it today, I’m a little bit horrified. But if you wanted to be a pen pal, you could get in touch. You already knew that you had one common interest, i.e., nature.” Seshan stayed connected with one of her pen pals for years, but lost touch when emails arrived. “[An email] seemed easier in one way because it was exciting and faster, yet it wasn’t because we didn’t have good internet,” she tells us. ILLUSTRATIONS Courtesy/DENISE ANTAO; HARPERCOLLINS India Her book traverses the endearing ways in which children navigate rights and wrongs, take decisions, and desire gentle affirmations. She packs in little lessons within the conversations, without making the children sound preachy. The format of the letter enables her to withhold any judgment on the characters and focus on the idea of friendship. “Friendship is the main theme in all my books. It really shapes who we are; it definitely shaped who I am. We’ve all been kids, so we know what big decisions look like, even though they appear small to adults.” Betrayal, for instance, can look different to kids. “There are small things that some children do which make other children feel betrayed sometimes, and this is a big deal for a child.” She refers to a moment in the narrative when one of the letter-writers gives a friendship band, gifted to her by a friend from school, to somebody else. “It is heartbreaking.” Having worked with children through book clubs and writing programmes, she understands these emotions well. “I think what we were as kids was different.” Listening to them has allowed Seshan to bridge the gap between the time that she remembers as a child and the world that children live in today. It has also given her a chance to notice all that has remained the same. Visual elements, for example, illustrated by Denise Antao, form an important part of a shared language between the characters. The children scribble codes or draw pictures in their letters. “Kids love art. When you start writing, you start doodling too. We do it even as adults. They are part of our experiences as human beings,” concludes Seshan. The book, therefore, offers much to young readers and ultimately leaves them thinking what it means to be a good friend. Cost: Rs 175 Booked with friends Bipathu and a Very Big Dream by Anita Nair Anita Nair Every night, nine-year-old Bipathu dreams that her elder brother Saad, Hrithik Roshan, and she were playing football. She can’t in reality; her Umma won’t let her. When her school reopens, she makes new friends: a blind lady from her neighbourhood, a football-crazy schoolmate Rahul, a neighbour named Maash, and a rescue pup named Duggu. As the class bully Suleiman makes attempts to stand in the way of Rahul’s selection for the football team, Bipathu and friends get together to help Rahul out. Tara and the Friendship Theorem by Chitra Soundar Chitra Soundar Tara and Farida are best friends, who love playing pallanguzhi (a two-player board game). When Tara’s family moves to London, she yearns for her best friend. On the flight, she stumbles upon a book which teaches her a math-based ‘Friendship Theorem’. Tara loves solving puzzles and decides to make use of the theorem to find a friend. Absorbed in following its strict principles, she misses seeing an important friendship developing at Camp Wilderness. You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly Erin Entrada Kelly Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and 11-year-old Ben Boxer live in different parts of the country. While Ben loves Harry Potter and recycling, Charlotte loves collecting rocks and hopes to become a geologist one day. They are connected by an online scrabble game. Over a few days, they develop an endearing bond and find out that they share much more than this. They’ve both experienced a difficult time at home and have no friends in school who understand them. The Last Bear by Hannah Gold Hannah Gold Young April’s scientist father informs her about the complete disappearance of polar bears from Bear Island, where they are bound. One day, however, she meets one and sets her mind to take him back to his family and his home. She feeds him oat biscuits with peanut butter and nurses his hurt paw; he teaches her to press her ear to the earth and listen. This is a story of a gentle friendship between an animal and a child fighting climate change. At: All titles are available at leading bookstores and e-stores
16 April,2025 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini Varma
Tune in to this podcast with an industry expert to learn social media hacks
If you have questions about how to increase your followers on Instagram or how much content you should put out on Facebook, Aleena Dissects’ recent podcast episode with Ankit Rihal might come to your rescue. Rihal is part of the Creator Partnership at Meta India. As a part of his profession, he works closely with content creators and has a deep understanding of what works on the platform. Experts suggest diversifying content for better reach. Representation Pic/istock The podcast host Aleena Gandhi interviews Rihal and using his expertise, helps us address simple problems like whether to use hashtags or keywords. In the show, Rihal emphasises the importance of creating good content. He points out that putting the same content on all the platforms can create fatigue in users. Instead, one should understand the platform and customise the content accordingly. The expert busts the myth in the first few minutes of the podcast that Facebook is irrelevant. He points out that there are audiences, even today, especially in Tier Two and Three cities, who prefer Facebook as their primary platform. Rihal also explains whether a user should niche down or keep their content broader, depending on the need. The one-hour-long podcast helps netizens dive deep into the Meta world. The podcast garnered more than 20,000 views on YouTube and the channel has 56,000 followers. Log on to @aleenadissects on YouTube
15 April,2025 09:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Minal Sancheti
Help your kids learn how to stay healthy with this guidebook's easy yoga asanas
So, what’s the deal with yoga, anyway? “Any time of the day, any situation, you can get control of yourself by sitting quietly and turning off from the external noise. I can go inside myself, where it’s always calm and peaceful.” These aren’t our words. They aren’t yoga instructor Anahita Sanjana’s either, though her new book tells a similar story. That was George Harrison, the quiet Beatle, answering your question in a 1970 BBC interview; shortly after his transformative trip to Rishikesh, India. Students perform yoga ballet, an expressive hybrid of the two practices In her new book, Yoga for Young Minds (AuroPublications), Sanjana draws from over two decades of teaching experience at the JB Petit High School to introduce teenagers to the practice. The book clears up common misconceptions, explains key ideas from yogic philosophy in simple terms, and offers practical guidance on asanas. While it is based on the Class 10 ICSE yoga curriculum, a quick read reveals that you don’t need to be a student to find something valuable in it. Anahita Sanjana. Pics Courtesy/Yoga for young minds on Youtube The book opens with an introduction to Rishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, considered one of the earliest documentations of yoga. Contrary to what common knowledge had us believe, we’re surprised to learn that hardly three of the 196 sutras relate to the Internet’s favourite buzzword — asanas. “The yoga sutras guide young minds in grounding their thoughts, the root causes of a distracted mind, and virtues that help them deal with emotions of jealousy, angst and inadequacy. They’re a peek into the psychology of the mind,” says Sanjana. We had one of our own myths busted: children aren’t difficult to engage in yoga. In fact, they often look forward to it, says Sanjana. “These days, kids are constantly rushing between tuitions. They barely have time to play or exercise. Many end up with poor posture, back and neck pain. Through breathwork and movement, I try to help bring their minds to a place of ease. Once they see that it helps them relax, they look forward to it,” she reveals. The book covers philosophies from schools like Vedanta, Buddhism, and Jainism, and introduces key figures such as Sri Aurobindo and Ramana Maharshi. But before all that, it focuses on asanas, clearly divided into sitting, standing, and inversion poses, each with illustrations and noted benefits. For those who learn better by watching, the book includes a QR code that links to video tutorials for each asana. AVAILABLE Leading e-stores Log on to Yoga for Young Minds on YouTube (for guided videos) While we suggest you tune into the guided video, here are the first four asanas that you can try at home. 1. Uttanasana 1 Stand straight, raise your hands up, stretch and bend forward2 Touch the floor or the back of your calf depending on your flexibility3 Use a bolster for support if your hands cannot reach the floor 2. Parshva Uttanasana 1 Spread your legs four feet apart (measured by your foot’s length). Turn your right foot to the right, followed by the left foot in the same direction2 Form a namaste (folded hands) behind your back or hold your elbows to open your shoulders3 Arch your back and exhale as you bend towards your right thigh and hold the pose for six breaths 3. Parivritta Trikonasana 1 Face the wall with your legs four feet apart2 Twist your body to a side with your palms facing forward3 Hold and exhale before bending to one side to touch the floor 4. Ardha Chandrasana 1 With your legs four feet apart, bend your right knee2 Touch your right palm to the floor to create a right angle between your arm and the floor3 Slowly lift your left foot off the ground till it is parallel to the ground
15 April,2025 09:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
Sip on cocktails with music by a Delhi record bar at this pop-up in Mumbai
As the famous Shakespearean quote goes, food and music often go hand in hand. With themed and curated menus being all the rage, it was not a surprise that they are at the core of the upcoming pop-up at KMC Bar and Bistro in Fort. “Coming from Delhi, we are bringing some really good music and drinks to your tables in Mumbai. The idea was always to introduce a bit of the vibe from Genre to the Mumbai space,” shares Dixit Kaundal, senior mixologist, Genre. The pop-up is particularly unique for its mix of music that comes from the vinyl collection that has set Genre apart from its peers in the capital. As India’s inaugural record bar, the space has redefined the idea for a morning brunch or evening cocktail with its retro experience. Apurv Bhatwadekar, bar manager, KMC Bar and Bistro, adds, “Our cocktail menu is inspired by iconic songs, with each drink named after a track that holds special meaning for the team.” Late Night People Kaundal shares that the four drinks picked out for the pop-up are defined by their spirits and musical influences. For instance, The Hot Thing — jalapeno infused Don Julio tequila with coriander and malic acid — is a take on Mos Def’s eponymous track. Another one, Late Night People, takes off the jazz riffs of Yazmin Lacey by blending Tanqueray, coffee mistelle, and sepoy tonic to capture the slow burn of jazz nights. The craftsmanship of the cocktails will be elevated by the tracks on the turntables that will accompany the drinks. “ Moments from a previous session at the bar in New Delhi “My favourite is the Witchy,” shares Kaundal, elaborating, “It is a nod to Kaytranada and Childish Gambino, with a mix of JW Black Label, bianco, cardamom cordial and olive brine that adds a spicy finish.” The choice of the curation was not tailored to Mumbai, he adds, but rather to showcase the flavours of Delhi. “We know that the people in Delhi prefer tequila and similar spirits. It is rather to showcase those flavours, and the drinks that capture it, we curated these signatures on the pop up,” he shares. Apurv Bhatwadekar and Dixit Kaundal The music though is much along the lines of a Mumbai experience. Genre co-founder Kunal Singh Chhabra calls it ‘Hindustani funk’. “It is a fresh and innovative concept that blends traditional Hindustani vocals with contemporary funk and disco rhythms. This unique fusion is a first-of-its-kind offering in India and exclusively presented by us,” he explains. As is a common theme, the music carries forward the Delhi haunt’s regular listening sessions. Chhabra adds, “We host Hindustani Funk once in a night and it’s always a hit night from albums by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Bappi Lahiri and more.” Bhatwadekar notes that the spontaneity of the experience is what the Mumbai restaurant will look to capitalise on. “Do not forget, KMC means khana, mehfil and charcha. Moving forward, the idea is to build more such experiences, where communities effortlessly come together under one roof,” he concludes. On: April 18; 8 pm onwardsAt: KMC Bar and Bistro, Kitab Mahal, 2, Azad Maidan, Fort.Call: 9987653397
15 April,2025 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Ditch Mumbai's chaos to indulge in this stargazing experience in Bhandardara
In polluted cities like Mumbai it’s impossible to find stars in the sky. The smog created by the mixture of smoke and fog blurs the possibility of finding the stars in the night. But there are places in the outskirts of the city where you can stargaze. Treks And Trails, a Mumbai based agency will be organising a stargazing experience in Bhandardara. They will provide telescopes and have experts onsite. Participants use a telescope to see celestial bodies at a previous stargazing camp Sarfaraz Baghdadi, the founder of the agency, says, “Milky Way photography is possible from February to May in Maharashtra around the new moon. Bhandardara has a good dark night sky and relatively less night light pollution. You need a tripod and mobile phone or DSLR with a long exposure to click the image. You also need to know the time it rises and which direction it is possible to find it using stargazing apps like Stellarium. We teach guests how to click their pictures as the camera is able to capture more light using a long exposure. It looks different from naked eyes.”SEE PHOTOS: Indulge in these summer menus in Mumbai this April A clear night sky photograph from a previous session He adds, “We carefully choose our campsites away from villages and resorts to minimize light pollution and ensure a truly dark sky experience. Summer offers clearer skies, making it the ideal season for capturing stunning night sky photographs, including the Milky Way.” Sarfaraz Baghdadi ON April 19; 11 amAt Samrad village, near Sandhan Valley, Bhandardara.CALL 8828004949COST Rs 1,699 onwards
14 April,2025 09:16 AM IST | Mumbai | The Guide Team
Baisakhi 2025: Here's how Mumbai's Punjabi community celebrates the festival
A day of auspices The day has many meanings. It is not just limited to the harvest; Baisakhi was also the day the Khalsa was established. That makes it holy for Sikhs. I grew up around Amritsar, and later Delhi. Though we were Hindu, my mother would celebrate the day in her own way. Every Baisakhi, she would take us to the temple and donate to the poor. Since this is the season for the musk melon [kharbuza], she would offer the fruit and a hand fan. After we moved to Mumbai in 1975, we made a point to have important ceremonies, engagements, meetings with friends on this day. In fact, I have lived for 50 years opposite the Gurudwara Dhan Potohar Nagar, and every year I enjoyed watching their celebrations, processions and nagar kirtans.Meena Kanwara, 72, Santacruz West. Rediscovering my roots A poem on Baisakhi from Sood Nayak’s compilation My parents moved to Delhi at the beginning of the troubles in Punjab. So, I grew up in a very urban space. But Baisakhi has many connotations. It was the day the Khalsa Path was established. It was also the day Jallianwala Bagh occurred. So it is etched deep in Punjabi culture and memory. My search for identity, as an artiste and singer, was through music. This weekend, we performed a session on Baisakhi poetry and songs.IN PHOTOS: Baisakhi 2025 celebrations from across the country Radhika Sood Nayak One of the songs is the Baisakhi da mela by Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik. It is a vibrant visual description of the celebrations, love and the fervour. I remember sitting in Ludhiana with my cousins, and we would hear the song, ‘Taaze samose’ on the radio. Every sweet and delicacy in the Punjabi cuisine is part of its lyrics. Most folk songs offer an insight into the soft, kind life of the community; something we must revive.Radhika Sood Nayak, singer, Santacruz West. The nostalgia of language A community performance of Bhangra. Pics Courtesy/Ritu Uppal I Have been in Mumbai for the last 10 years. Baisakhi is a community celebration up North, and we still celebrate at the Punjab society in Santacruz with a get together every year. It is a comfort if only to hear your language — through songs and conversations. Dr Ritu Uppal When we feel homesick, we head off to shop at Gandhi market in Sion Koliwada. It is the place to be if you want to buy anything Punjabi. And when I say shopping, it is usually for food, and ingredients like vegetables, matthis or massi ka aata that are sourced from Amritsar and Jalandhar.Dr Ritu Uppal, 58, Santacruz Big it up with Bhangra A folk performance at Patiala, Punjab. Pics courtesy/Reena CHaddha I moved to Mulund from Delhi in 1979, before moving to Ghatkopar. Whether it is food, celebrations, apparel or language, it is quite exuberant. We came from a farming background, so we would have large celebrations. There was matchmaking, fairs, and everything would happen at this time. I remember back earlier days in Jalandhar, we would see the giddhas. Reena Chadha The giddha is to the women what bhangra is to the men and the couples. Now, everything is slowly diminishing with rising urbanisation. Still, in Mumbai, we gather at the association. For a Punjabi, the key part of any celebration is the food. The second is the folk music and songs that I really enjoy listening to.Reena Chadha, 56, counsellor, Ghatkopar West. Baisakhi songs to listen to >> Mele nu chal mere naal – Asa Singh Mastana >> Taaze samose khalo – K Deep and Jagmohan Kaur >> Visakhi — Amrita Pritam >> O Jatta aai Baisakhi – Mohammed Rafi >> Baisakhi da mela – Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik
14 April,2025 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Want to start gardening in your home? Attend this workshop to learn more
Be honest. Haven’t you at some point fantasised about ditching the city’s chaos and escaping to a peaceful countryside home where you grow your own little herbs and fresh juicy tomatoes? We certainly have. But as it turns out, even if that far-off dream were to come true, most Mumbaikars would be left clueless. Dsouza’s vertical plant wall. PICS COURTESY/Clyde Dsouza Nurturing a garden is a far more mindful process than you’d think. Green Chimes, a community venture, hosted their first balcony gardening workshop at a Santacruz nursery last week to teach Mumbaikars the basics of building a home garden. Let there be light Plants that are marketed as low-maintenance and dark room-friendly are shady business, says Clyde Dsouza, horticulture consultant. “No plant can grow in your bathroom shielded from sunlight for your convenience. Sunlight is central to photosynthesis,” he clarifies. Potted monstera and snake plants in Dsouza’s balcony To choose the right plant for your home garden, he offers a simple guide. If your window lets in six to seven hours of sunlight each day, you’re in luck; you can grow most plants with ease. Flowering varieties like hibiscus, mogra, and jasmine need around six hours of sunlight to flourish. “Trying to grow a flowering plant without that much light is a waste of money,” he says. Ornamental plants like monstera and snake plant are more forgiving, needing only about three hours of sunlight. As for those fragrant herbs like mint, thyme, and coriander that you can almost catch a whiff of as you read this, they ideally need four hours of light to thrive. Water woes “People think water is some magical elixir; the more, the better. But in reality, the secret is to under-water your plants. Plants actually thrive under a bit of stress,” he reveals. Additionally, he suggests you water your plants during the day, and not as an afterthought before going to bed. “Watering your plants in the absence of sunlight stunts evaporation, leaving your soil sticky and prone to fungal growth,” Dsouza suggests. Participants ready the soil at the pilot workshop in Santacruz In addition to correct drainage, additions like osmocote, cocopeat, and riversand (all available in leading e-stores) can help control the soil conditions for optimal growth, we learn. At the workshops, Dsouza offers a hands-on experience of these techniques. Space jam Robert Fernandes, landscape consultant, admits that having a balcony in this city of matchbox homes is a luxury in itself. “But there are plenty of ways to work around that. You can set up vertical garden walls or use layered horizontal shelves,” he suggests. Dsouza, who is nurturing a 50-sq ft garden in his own home, stands by the advice. “It’s all about mixing it up. For instance, a tall flowering plant placed next to a herb can provide it enough shade to get the right amount of sunlight. When you hit the sweet spot, there’s nothing like it. My home feels cooler on summer days, I can breathe easier and every once in a while, a sunbird comes visiting,” he chuckles. With the pilot workshop receiving an enthusiastic response, the organisation is now planning more sessions in the near future. “We had everyone from retired doctors to young students drop by,” says organiser Aditi Jayakar Kane, adding, “That’s the great part about gardening. Anyone can try their hand at it.” A green thumb, as always, is a bonus. LOG ON TO Green Chimes on Facebook (for updates)
12 April,2025 10:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
Here's how you can enjoy reading books by the pool in Mulund this summer
For all you book lovers out there, a trip to read a book by the beach in this heat might be a far-off dream. How about a literary conversation by the pool instead? Put your reading glasses on, and join The Float House Book Club in Mulund. This indoor pool, event and community space in the eastern suburb is open to all book lovers, aged eight and above, to be a part of engaging literary conversations and finding your own group of bibliophiles. The Float House, which hosts swim, aqua exercise and dive sessions, also has a studio and is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. The club has been started by young Tejal Ahuja, who also handles the front desk at the space. “The idea is to choose a book and meet every Sunday to discuss, analyse and dive into what we have read all week. We are happy to include children who read or co-read, accompanied by adults, and the session will be moderated to include them,” she says. Ahuja, a psychology graduate will also conduct a case study analysis and discussion of a character chosen by club members. She is currently using the space’s Instagram handle to reach out to readers from the ’burbs, and hopes there will be enough members soon to get this club by the pool going. TIME Sundays; 10 am to 11.30 amAT The Float House, Asha Nagar, Mulund West.CALL 9324666209 ENTRY Rs 500 (membership fee)
12 April,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Dhara Vora Sabhnani
Think it up: Engage your children in this unique workshop that tests them
If we ask you to come up with a way to eat noodles without using a fork, what will you do? And don’t give us the looks because this question has nothing to do with table manners. On the contrary, it is intended to prod you to think outside the box, or as Butool Abbas tells us, “Test your divergent thinking skills.” This Sunday, a hands-on creative confidence demo workshop conducted by Abbas will pose such fun, quirky and stimulating questions to children along with a host of other activities to mould them in creative confidence. But first, what does the term mean? Children work in groups to create prototypes of their ideas on climate change at the US Consulate General, Mumbai. Pics courtesy/Thinkizm Abbas explains, “Creative confidence is one’s belief in their ability to come up with ideas in any chaotic life situation — and the courage to act on them. Most of us tend to think in a convergent manner which is basically a single solution to whatever problem you are facing. Divergent thinking allows you to view an issue from multiple stand points. It gives you the space to analyse your own ideas and not be biased towards one.” Students from a Santacruz-based school work on a model for cleaner roads in Mumbai Abbas is the founder of Thinkizm Learning Labs, a movement dedicated to creating a culture of thinking that promotes originality and creativity. Her master’s degree in design from IIT Kanpur, and experience of conducting these workshops with children as well as adults has led her to devise innovative strategies to help participants unlearn patterns and work effectively in limited resource environments. A model of a reimagined classroom “The idea is to break assumptions that often stop us from considering alternatives. We will use everyday objects like paper, cardboard and duct tapes as resources for the exercises to make it both simple and invigorating for the children,” the Kanjurmarg resident shares. A detailed prototype of a reconceptualised school Along with discussions, the session will have three major activities; the imagination quest, the curiosity quest and the maker’s quest that will push children to build specific mindsets as they devise methods to approach a problem. The activities will be both individual and group-based with focus on igniting children’s curiosity and discovering their creative potential. “In this day and age when reliance on AI (Artificial Intelligence) and chatbots have increased it is more important than ever to have original thinkers in our society and who better to start with than children,” she tells us before signing off. Butool Abbas ON April 13; 10 am to 12 noonAT Nautilus at Candies, 5AA, Pali Hill, Bandra West.LOG ON TO @thinkizmlearninglabs (to register)COST Rs 200 (for children between 9 to 12 years of age)
12 April,2025 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha Panda