21 March,2026 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Satej Shinde
Amid Navroze celebrations, pigeons perch on the winged Farohar symbol on the facade of the Seth Jamshedji Dadabhai Amaria Agiary in Marine Lines.
Streeties across Mumbai will have a swanky new ambulance of their own this summer. Youth Organisation in Defense of Animals (YODA) has acquired a new ambulance for their Flash Care service, thanks to a fellow animal lover. When city-based pet parent Pooja Thakur Karmekar lost her pet dog Flash, she decided to spark a change that will help other pet parents from suffering a similar fate.
"Her decision to donate an ambulance in the memory of her brother, Sakar, and Flash, is deeply meaningful to us. It reflects not just love, but a commitment to creating real impact for street animals who often go unseen. The ambulance will enable us to provide immediate medical care on the streets, respond to trauma calls, carry out vaccinations, and transport them to shelters when needed," shared Dhiraj Tejwani, CEO, YODA.
A German twist in Girgaon
An unlikely guest from Berlin turned heads (and cameras) at the Gudi Padwa Shobha Yatra in Girgaon on March 19. Clad in a nauvari saree, German educator Jennifer Koenigsberger treated revellers to an action-packed performance of Mardani Khel, the traditional Maratha martial art form. Koenigsberger, who has been living in India for the past nine years, told this diarist, "I was introduced to the art form by a globetrotting German friend. I trained with the Shree Shivajiraje Mardani Akhada in Pune ahead of the Gudi Padwa showcase. While I have previously performed at Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Berlin , this was my first public performance in Mumbai. The atmosphere was surreal, and the love I am receiving is overwhelming." Will she be here to see Mumbai's Ganeshotsav in full scale this year? "I want to, but I'm not certain. Hum dekhenge," she signed off.
Gudi Padwa arrived with quite a colourful twist for the neighbourhood of Lalbaug. On March 19, the famed Ganesh Galli hosted the Mumbai cha Raja Arts Festival, a four-day celebration that will conclude on Sunday, March 22. From sculptures, photographs, to canvas art creations, and performances, the venue saw artists bring their best to represent the culture of the state.
For Lalbaug resident Vishal Tirmal, a chance to participate in the festival was an exciting opportunity. "This is an annual celebration, and is open to artists of all genres. This year, the theme is to spotlight the Cultures of Maharashtra. Naturally, artists from across the state are showcasing their traditional art forms," he told us.
For readers keen to drop in, Tirmal might still be working at the venue. "I am working on a 4ft x 4ft canvas, creating a live-art painting. The work will be created over two days," the artist added.
Whoever coined the phrase ârules are made to be broken' definitely walked through Andheri West at least once. Most recently, a fallen BMC signboard near the Azad Nagar metro station that states the risks of feeding pigeons, has been repurposed by locals into a... pigeon feeder. Environmentalist Meehir Pawar shared the ironic sight with us after stumbling upon grains spread out on the board that had bitten the dust. "Zero civic sense," he sighed. We'll call it the kabootar conundrum.
