The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
PIC/Atul Kamble
So what if it rains on our parade
Members of the Mumbai Police march in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus during a dress rehearsal for the Independence Day parade.
Strains from the desert
Padma Shri Lakha Khan, one of the last remaining performers of the 27-string sarangi. Pics Courtesy/Jodhpur RIFF OIJO
From the 27-string sarangi to the Bhutanese dranyen, to dhrupad and Carnatic, a menagerie of music will echo through the Mehrangarh Palace in October for the annual edition of Jodhpur RIFF 2025.
The festival which commences on October 2, will see performers from Uzbekistan, Finland, Portugal among South Asian, Middle Eastern, European performers collaborating with Indian folk artistes. “The exposure for folk musicians in India is best when they collaborate with artists from other countries. It leads to greater mutual respect and authenticity,” Divya Bhatia (above), festival director, told us.
A walk down history
Participants pose to showcase their attire during the fashion show. Pic Courtesy/Jai Vakeel Foundation
In a week that celebrates freedom, it seems apt that the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) Mumbai, played host to individuals with special abilities taking centrestage. As part of the ongoing three-day Loomanaries exhibition, celebrating traditional handloom heritage and textiles, specially-abled individuals and children from the NGOs, Jai Vakeel Foundation and Suryoday Trust alongwith Tisser Artisan Trust and the Ministry of Textiles showcased the fabrics in a unique show on August 13. “This was a show to celebrate the long tradition and heritage of handloom that came into existence across India. In fact, the NGMA has a deep connection to the heritage since the gallery space often hosted Mahatma Gandhi’s speeches during his stay in Bombay back then. The highlight was the children taking to the ramp in the morning,” revealed Nidhi Choudhari, director, NGMA.
Barcelona buzz in our tipple
Cloud cocktail
Mumbai will get a bit of Gaudi this week, and we mean it as a compliment. Ranked among the top 10 Best Bars in the World, Paradiso from Barcelona has been hosting a takeover at Late Checkout for two nights (August 13 and 14). “Expect cocktails that blend Mediterranean elegance with theatrical innovation through classics like The Great Gatsby with its whisky‑truffle honey‑smoke ritual, or Kriptonita with its electric citrus punch,” shared Giacomo Giannotti, founder. But the city might leave a mark on Giannotti, who shared that the city’s warmth, colour and hospitality are inspiring.
Drift into serenity
Pic Courtesy/EHV International
IF you are looking for a quiet place in Mumbai to sip your afternoon coffee or a bar to drop-in after work, Drift has got you covered. Newly-opened on August 11, the space in Lower Parel offers comfort and luxury in a European-style setting. “A fluid, all-day place that adapts effortlessly to the rhythm of Mumbai, the design is contemporary and equally inviting for a quick meeting, lunch or an evening out,” Nitin Mathur, COO, EHV International, told this diarist.
Freedom in different hues
The fourth edition of the annual Independence Project will focus on the theme of slowing down, rather than hyping up. The annual congregation of artists, thinkers, poets and writers will kick off today at the restored heritage site of IF.BE at Ballard Estate. “This is not a festival of urgency or spectacle. It is an offering of time, of space, of possibility. Each work invites you to slow down, to notice, to inhabit the present fully. In the quiet art of presence lies a deeper kind of freedom — one no external power can grant or take away,” added curator Sarita Vijayan (below). To this end, the events will feature midnight cycling rides through SoBo, improv theatre, as well as the curtain raiser of Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon’s new project, Maya.
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