<h2>In the concrete jungle</h2>
The rapid growth of Mumbai&rsquo;s construction spree dwarfs a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai--fibreglass-sculpture-of-fisherman-inaugurated-in-worli-23147219" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">lion sculpture at Worli</a>
<h2>Learning hiss-stories</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Priyanshu-Kamble_e.jpg" alt="Priyanshu Kamble with an Indian Rock Python. Pic courtesy/@vigilante_wyld" width="1280" height="720" /> Priyanshu Kamble with an Indian Rock Python. Pic courtesy/@vigilante_wyld
With the first showers bringing out the quiet, slithering residents of the city, MARA (<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-kala-ghoda-parking-scam-fake-attendant-arrested-after-instagram-expose-23637137" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Maharashtra Animal Rescue Association</a>) volunteer Priyanshu Kamble is offering to familiarise Mumbaikars with these furtive friends. Drawing from years of wildlife rescue and public outreach, the conservationist is launching Understanding Snakes: Snake Ecology &amp; Introductory Herpetology, an online course aimed at making scientific wildlife education more accessible to the layman. &ldquo;The objective is to explain that snakes are not villains,&rdquo; he said. Designed for beginners, the self-paced programme will cover snake biology, ecology, and safety. Readers looking to learn more, can log on to @vigilante_wyld
<h2>The greener cut of grass</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Akhand_e.jpg" alt="Akhand, an artwork created by Kumar Misal during the residency in Mayurbhanj" width="1280" height="720" /> Akhand, an artwork created by Kumar Misal during the residency in Mayurbhanj
Have you ever wondered what can be created from eco-friendly Sabai grass (Eulaliopsis binata), a resilient natural fibre indigenous to eastern India? <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-diary-sunday-dossier-from-bandra-bandstand-visuals-to-free-art-archive-23637181" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bandra-based art gallery Art &amp; Charlie&rsquo;s inaugural Mayurbhanj Residency</a>, which concluded on June 28 at The Belgadia Palace in Odisha, explored just that.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Sabai-artwork_e.jpg" alt="Akhand, an artwork created by Kumar Misal during the residency in Mayurbhanj" width="1280" height="720" /> Akhand, an artwork created by Kumar Misal during the residency in Mayurbhanj
Artist Kumar Misal lived alongside the erstwhile royal family while collaborating with artisans practising Sabai grass weaving, bamboo weaving, Dokra metal casting, Mayurbhanj Chhau, and regional textiles. Together, they created artworks rooted in local craftsmanship, which will arrive in Mumbai for Misal&rsquo;s first solo show at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/photos" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mumbai Gallery</a> Weekend 2027.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Kumar-Misal_e.jpg" alt="Kumar Misal and Ayesha Parikh" width="1280" height="720" /> Kumar Misal and Ayesha Parikh
&ldquo;It is a privilege to enter this process through the stewardship of The Belgadia Palace, an institution deeply embedded within the cultural fabric of the region,&rdquo; said Ayesha Parikh, founder, Art &amp; Charlie.
<h2>An ode to grains</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Grains-book_e.jpg" alt="Pic courtesy/harper collins" width="1280" height="720" /> Pic courtesy/Harper Collins
At a time where WhatsApp is flooded with quick recipes and food trends, chef Anahita Dhondy is urging her readers to slow down. Her new title, The Grain Kitchen (HarperCollins India), explores the history of grains through ingredient-led storytelling and features over 100 recipes. After the release of the book on June 26, Dhondy said, &ldquo;This book is my tribute to these remarkable ingredients and an invitation to rediscover their place in our kitchens through recipes that are rooted in tradition and inspired by today.&rdquo;
<h2>Jamming with space rocks</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Nehru-science-1_e.jpg" alt="An Indochinite meteorite found in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia" width="1280" height="720" /> An Indochinite meteorite found in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia
On International Asteroid Day tomorrow (June 30), the Nehru Science Centre in Worli will turn its attention to both space science and a geological treasure.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Nehru-science-2_e.jpg" alt="Children learn about asteroids and space rocks during a session. Pics courtesy/Nehru Science Centre" width="1280" height="720" />Children learn about asteroids and space rocks during a session. Pics courtesy/Nehru Science Centre
Organised in collaboration with the Akash Ganga Centre for Astronomy, Amateur Astronomers Association and Geological Society of India, the programme will feature expert talks from Dr Bharat Adur and professor Kuljeet Marhas, Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, interactive exhibits and meteorite displays.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/Anindita-Mondal_e.jpg" alt="Anindita Mondal" width="1280" height="720" /> Anindita Mondal
&ldquo;Asteroid Day reminds us that studying these celestial objects not only helps us understand our Solar System but also prepares us for future impact risks,&rdquo; said curator Anindita Mondal.

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