25 May,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Shadab Khan
A woman practises calligraphy at the recently concluded India Pen Show in Worli
From wafer sandwiches at K Rustom & Co to fruit-forward scoops at Naturals Ice Cream and nostalgic flavours at Apsara Ice Creams, Mumbai's ice cream culture has found a place on the global stage. Featured in TasteAtlas' list of the World's 100 Most Iconic Ice Creams, these beloved brands reflect the city's enduring love for inventive yet comforting desserts.
Patrons at K Rustom & Co at Churchgate. File Pic (right) An ice cream display from Naturals. Pic Courtesy/NaturalIceCreams
Founded in 1953, K Rustom & Co remains synonymous with its iconic mango ice cream (among other flavours) sandwich tucked between crisp wafers. Naturals continues to charm patrons with its tender coconut flavour made using fresh fruit and natural ingredients, while Apsara's guava scoop captures the sweet-spicy taste of the fruit sold on Mumbai's streets. Together, these homegrown favourites celebrate the city's rich dessert heritage, crafted in timeless nostalgia.
Akash Dayal plays a didgeridoo; (right) Dayal's designs
For Akash Dayal, the didgeridoo is more than just a quirky word. "I fell in love with it back in 2015, and learned to play it," the Andheri resident shared. Having been introduced to the instrument by craftsmen in Rishikesh, Dayal now crafts the instrument. "Though I design them in teak wood and bamboo, plastic remains the most travel-friendly material," he admitted. The musician's upcoming workshop at Chembur on May 31 will introduce participants to this instrument. Interested readers can log on to @soundsofajna for more details.
Drummers jam together on Carter Road. Pic Courtesy/@mumbaidrum
Mumbai has no shortage when it comes to community-building, one such community is Mumbai Drum Circle, which first began in Delhi, and slowly found its way into our metropolis. "It started on Carter Road, where somebody got a tabla; someone else brought along a djembe, and they began playing together," Jitesh Jain, a core member of Mumbai Drum Circle recalled. The community jam completed 15 years on May 22, and plans to celebrate with a unity jamming session on May 31. The community has now built a fraternity with people from Pune to Bengaluru marching to the beat of their drums.
A moment from a previous production. Pic Courtesy/@nirmik_cultural_center on Instagram
Nirmik Cultural Centre, a community led cultural space in Kandivali is finally having its first fest after three years of operation, and it's all about celebrating upcoming artistes, constitutional values and democratic principles. The centre has long advocated for democracy as a core principle and keeping the recent Transgender Persons Amendment Act in mind, is inviting transgender poet and activist Disha Pinky Shaikh to inaugurate the event.
Tying into this Dhammrakshit Randive, one of the founders, told us about the purpose of the fest, "We are talking about a collective culture, and the diversity of our country. There are different voices in this country. Everyone has the right to speak and everyone has the right to live." Randive emphasised. The fest, which will take place on May 30 and 31, will centre on conversations about cultural resistance and aesthetics alongside plays and stand up performances as they reclaim the democratic right to expression.
