17 June,2026 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
PIC/Nimesh Dave
A touch of green brightens up a mural about the Maximum City near Dahisar Subway
Srushti Bansode creates on the board (right) the finished artwork. Pics Courtesy/@_srush_tea
The sight of trash, leftover debris across the city and its adjoining urban areas, is a known phenomenon. So, it was no surprise that graffiti artist Srushti Bansode encountered her share of debris during a recent art escapade in Kalyan. The difference is that Bansode decided to turn it into a gift. "I spotted this perfect square piece of wood, and decided to graffiti on it. We left it behind as a sign, and perhaps someone will pick it up to take that art further," she told this diarist.
A moment from a music video by the band. Pic Courtesy/@Alright Mela on YouTube
The monsoon might be delayed, but music remains the flavour of the season this June. The French trio of Alright Mela will stopover in India for a tour with a powerful live act built around rhythm, trance, and their signature Gnawa nomadic influences. The band, founded by Markus, Cheb Xavi, and Gnawa artiste Jaouad El Garouge, will perform in the city on June 24 for the French Institute in India's Fete de la Musique 2026.
(From top left) Markus, Cheb Xavi, and Jaouad El Garouge
They will perform as part of a three-band group, alongside baLLLad and Kelly ou Moi. While baLLLad will transform a public space into an immersive participatory performance, Kelly ou Moi will blend music and storytelling into an intimate showcase. "Our music was born from unexpected encounters between traditions, instruments, and influences from different parts of the world. What matters most to us is the collective energy of a live performance, and India feels like the kind of place where that energy can take us somewhere entirely new," shared Alright Mela.
Vasundhara Gupte
Plastic pollution continues to threaten Vashi's mangroves, with volunteers warning that the scale of the crisis is far worse than most people realise. Around 30 volunteers from Urvari, a youth organisation, and Mangrove Marshal, the environment wing of Vrajj Foundation, recently conducted a clean-up drive near Sagar Vihar, removing plastic wrappers and other waste from the area. "The waste we collected represents only a fraction of what remains. It is alarming that many people still fail to grasp the true extent of the problem," said Vasundhara Gupte, co-founder of Urvari.
Rohitt Malhotra, founder of Mangrove Marshal, highlighted the persistence of the issue, saying, "Every weekend we remove nearly half a truckload of garbage, yet it barely dents the problem. Single-use plastics, biomedical waste, diapers and sanitary pads make up much of what we find."
Pics Courtesy/Speaking Tiger
Wendy Doniger (right), one of the world's foremost scholars of mythology and Hindu traditions, turns the lens inward in her memoir, For The Love Of Stories: Confessions of an Accidental Feminist (Speaking Tiger). Scheduled to release on June 25, it blends personal reflection with intellectual history, tracing her journey from New York to India, and beyond.
Rich with anecdotes, humour and candour, the book explores academia, feminism, censorship and storytelling, while offering an intimate portrait of a life shaped by myths, memories and meaningful conversations.
