<h2>What&rsquo;s your move?</h2>
A man walks over the yellow chequered pattern painted at a pedestrian crossing on SV Road in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-under-streetlights-and-before-sunrise-borivalis-young-skaters-turn-roads-into-makeshift-rinks-23632190" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Borivli</a>.&nbsp;
<h2>The Viking echo in India</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Indian-Embassy_e.jpg" alt="The Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi cheers &lsquo;Ro, Ro, Ro! Heia Norge!&rsquo; PICS COURTESY/X @norwayambindia" width="1280" height="720" /> The Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi cheers &lsquo;Ro, Ro, Ro! Heia Norge!&rsquo; PICS COURTESY/X @norwayambindia
Ahead of Norway&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-defending-champions-argentina-beat-switzerland-3-1-in-extra-time-23639393" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">FIFA World Cup</a> quarter-final against England that took place on July 12, the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi cheered the team as fans by joining in the country&rsquo;s iconic &lsquo;Ro, Ro, Ro! Heia Norge!&rsquo; chant. In a video shared on X by Ambassador May-Elin Stener, embassy staff dressed in Norway jerseys performed the Viking Row, the rhythmic pre-match tradition that has become synonymous with the team.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Halaand-chanting_e.jpg" alt="Erling Haaland leads the crowd in a chant ahead of kick-off at the stadium. PIC COURTESY/@erling" width="1280" height="720" /> Erling Haaland leads the crowd in a chant ahead of kick-off at the stadium. PIC COURTESY/@erling
The spirit was coincidentally mirrored across the globe, where <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-pressure-will-be-on-favourites-england-norway-striker-erling-haaland-23639221" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Erling Haaland </a>led the exact same chant with thousands of supporters inside the stadium before kick-off at a previous match. Both moments captured the same wholesome energy, highlighting the overwhelming support pouring in from India and showing how a simple football tradition has become a symbol of togetherness for fans across the globe.&nbsp;
<h2>Westeros approved</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Helmet-Molankar_e.jpg" alt="The customised dragon-inspired headgear. Pics courtesy/Jeet Molankar" width="1280" height="720" /> The customised dragon-inspired headgear. Pics courtesy/Jeet Molankar
Daemon Targaryen has found, what we believe, is a desi avatar. As House of the Dragon Season 3 blitzes towards its August 9 finale, cosplay champion Jeet Molankar has recreated the rogue prince with a detailed costume inspired by the series.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Jeet-Molankar_e.jpg" alt="Jeet Molankar as Daemon Targaryen at the premiere of House of the Dragon" width="1280" height="720" /> Jeet Molankar as Daemon Targaryen at the premiere of House of the Dragon
&ldquo;Honestly, I&rsquo;m more of a Game of Thrones fan, although I&rsquo;ve watched the first two seasons of House of the Dragon. I&rsquo;ve been cosplaying professionally for over a decade, and the idea emerged &nbsp;after a fellow cosplayer and friend suggested I should give this character a try,&rdquo; Molankar said. The ensemble took nearly a week to create, featuring foam armour and a sword built using a metal rod, acrylic paint and fabrication.
<h2>From Sangli to Wisconsin</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Gail-Bharat-still_e.jpg" alt="A still from the documentary, Gail and Bharat. PIC COURTESY/@somnathwaghmare8007 on Youtube" width="1280" height="720" /> A still from the documentary, Gail and Bharat. PIC COURTESY/@somnathwaghmare8007 on Youtube
For filmmaker Somnath Waghmare from Sangli, the selection of Gail and Bharat for a special screening at the 54th Annual Conference on South Asia at the University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison on October 29 is more than just another internationalmilestone.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Somnath-Waghmare_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
The 80-minute documentary, completed after eight years of research and filmmaking, chronicles the lives of sociologist Gail Omvedt and activist Bharat Patankar while seeking to preserve histories that are often overlooked.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Prachi-Patankar_e.jpg" alt="Prachi Patankar, daughter of Gail Omvedt and Bharat Patankar, discusses caste eradication in the documentary" width="1280" height="720" /> Prachi Patankar, daughter of Gail Omvedt and Bharat Patankar, discusses caste eradication in the documentary
Talking about the documentary, Waghmare said, &ldquo;There is very little audio-visual documentation of Dalit thinkers, writers and activists. If you compare the archival footage of Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, the difference is striking. I wanted this film to become a record that future generations can revisit.&rdquo; Calling the selection &ldquo;deeply meaningful,&rdquo; he added that it follows an extensive screening tour across the UK, Germany and, India.
<h2>Building ties Down Under</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Spoken-fest_e.jpg" alt="A Spoken Fest session at Bandra Kurla Complex. PICs COURTESY/KOMMUNE" width="1280" height="720" /> A Spoken Fest session at Bandra Kurla Complex. PICs COURTESY/KOMMUNE
The culture collective, Kommune, has tied up with the Adelaide Fringe Festival for Spoken Without Borders, a two-year cultural exchange partnership supported by the Australian Government&rsquo;s Maitri Grant Exchange Programme.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Adelaide-Fringe_e.jpg" alt="Artistes perform a youth circus show at the Adelaide Fringe Festival" width="1280" height="720" /> Artistes perform a youth circus show at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
Across the two years, Indian artistes will present at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, while Australian artistes will bring their creations to Mumbai&rsquo;s Spoken Fest.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Tess-Joseph_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
&ldquo;Spoken Without Borders is about Indian artistes arriving in all their complexity, language, humour, politics and imagination, while Australian artists enter living relationships with audiences and collaborators here in India,&rdquo; shared Kommune director (left) Tess Joseph.

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