16 April,2026 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Satej Shinde
A mural of traditional dancers offers an arty view to a customer at a roadside barber shop in Kandivli
Binoy Boban (extreme right, in yellow) with the group at the Everest Base Camp. Pic courtesy/Binoy Boban
It feels like a long trek from Lower Parel to Nepal, but Binoy Boban is enjoying it. The fitness trainer and trekker recently became part of an unexpected record when he guided a contingent of Indian-origin teenagers from UAE to the Everest Base Camp. "I have been collaborating with schools, and training youngsters to take mountaineering seriously. So, when the Bhavans Abu Dhabi school reached out, I was pleasantly surprised," Boban shared. Over the course of 15 days, the group of eight children - all between the ages of 13 and 16 years - found their way to 18,000 feet. What they did not know was that it was a UAE National Record for the youngest group to make it to the base of the famed mountain. "We hope that there are more children from India who are willing to take a step, and try this adventure," expressed Boban.
Neela Bhagwat at her residence at Matunga
She was a fierce vocalist," said singer Radhika Sood Nayak, remembering eminent Hindustani classical exponent and Gwalior Gharana artiste Neela Bhagwat, who passed away on April 14 at her Matunga residence after a prolonged illness. She was also known for digitising and publishing 337 compositions across 66 ragas.
Radhika Sood Nayak with Neela Bhagwat. Pic courtesy/File pic, Radhika Sood Nayak
Sood Nayak added, "I first encountered her in the early 2000s while training under Sushila Rani Patel ji. A friend, her student, introduced me to her, and our association deepened through music. Though my work lay in Punjabi folk and Sufi traditions, her Kabir bani, Sadho Dekho Jag Baurana, reflected her artistic intensity."
Dabbawala lunchbox delivery in Mumbai, watercolour and pen on paper 16x11 inch. Pics courtesy/Mithil Thaker
In a thoughtful tribute to one of Mumbai's most remarkable systems, visual artist Mithil Thaker from Ahmedabad captured the spirit of the Mumbai dabbawalas through an illustration. His work highlights the dabbawalas as one of Mumbai's main essential service providers, allowing the city to hustle.
Mithil Thaker
"My idea was to offer a tribute to discipline, precision, and human coordination," he said, reflecting on their near-flawless service. Through careful observation and intricate linework, Thaker has made many illustrations portraying how he views the streets. He has also made artworks from the streets of Ahmedabad and Hyderabad into a compelling visual narrative.
Micheal Varekamp
Mumbai's cultural calendar is set for a jazzed-up vibe as the 6th edition of the World Jazz Festival kicks off on April 19 at St Andrew's Auditorium, Bandra. The line-up features Michael Varekamp Quintet with Alexander âThe Hurricane' Beets, Wiboud Burkens Trio, Georgie Aué, Titi Luzipo and Muneeb Hermans.
Georgie Aue at a previous performance. Pic courtesy/@georgie.aue
"I'm very honoured to be a part of it. I was in India 30 years ago to study Indian music, and this would be my second visit," Michael Varekamp told this diarist. "I'm especially looking forward to performing with Alexander - we are inspired by the same sources and share a strong drive to unite people through jazz." Adding to this, vocalist and pianist Georgie Aué added, "Jazz is such an international language, so performing in this kind of global setting is incredibly special."
