12 August,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Atul Kamble
A group practises building a human pyramid in Sion ahead of Janmashtami celebrations
A scene from the play, Jagah. PIC COURTESY/@HAANH.HUM
In December last year, this diarist spent a day in the company of Sujata, Radha, Nargis and Seema from Kamathipura, who were putting together the Kamathipura Kala Mela brick by brick. "One day, we won't have to take our art to people, they'll seek it themselves," they had hoped. We were delighted to hear that the dream is coming true for the women, who are preparing to present their play Jagah at the upcoming Abhivyakti City Arts Project in Ahmedabad. Hurdles still stand tall in the way for the troupe as they are crowdfunding their travel and production costs. To know more, log on to @haanh.hum.
The most recent wall mural to turn heads in Marol does not feature the friendly Spider-Man or a macho Bollywood hero. It's the city's unsung superheroes: Taxiwalas, dabbawalas, fisherfolk, and sanitation workers who find a spot in a mural painted by the students of Bandra's IES College of Architecture (IESCOA).
The tribute murals created by the students in Marol. PICS COURTESY/IESCOA
"Since the mural was painted on the walls of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), we thought it was apt that the labour force received a tribute. The seven-feet-tall artwork was carefully created over a period of four days by 25 students," shared IESCOA professor Vivek Korlekar (left), who supervised the mural alongside professor Bhumika Mhaddalkar.
Congratulations are in order for the group, who have already received a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Labour and Employment for their efforts.
Indian Elephant. PIC COURTESY/@INTACH
On World Elephant Day today, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will celebrate the gentle giants. "Project Gaja Lok is a national initiative that explores the role of the elephant across the cultural, mythical, ecological, and historical facets of the Indian Subcontinent," shared Katyayani Agarwal, convenor, Mumbai chapter, INTACH.
Bittu Sahgal and Katyayani Agarwal
Alongside 80 chapters across India, the Mumbai chapter will host the screening of a special documentary Gaja Lok: Wild, Sacred, Eternal at NGMA Mumbai, with conservationist Bittu Sahgal in attendance, as well as a presentation on Elephants in Mythology by Utkarsh Patel and Arundhuti Dasgupta. "It is a celebration of one of the most loved and intelligent creatures," Agarwal added.
We're getting a good feeling about the new-age Mumbaikar. Last weekend, nearly 200 young changemakers in the fields of wellbeing, inclusivity, and sustainability converged under one roof at the WISE Awards organised by the Blue Ribbon Movement. "The older generation was one that would wait and watch. But today's youth is facing the brunt of civic inaction directly, and is eager to bring change themselves," said founder Abhishek Thakore (left). Now, that's the spirit.
