<h2>Theatre in action</h2>
Actor Pushkar Jog (on the ground, pointing the sword) performs during an <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bjp-to-engage-gen-z-with-bmc-internship-plan-ahead-of-mumbai-civic-polls-23597517" rel="nofollow">award ceremony at YB Chavan Centre</a> in Nariman Point.
<h2>Rocking it in Zen mode</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Saurabh-Rajput_e.jpg" alt="A bike balances on its side stand. Pic courtesy/@saurabhrajputbalance" width="1280" height="720" /> A bike balances on its side stand (right) Saurabh Rajput. Pic courtesy/@saurabhrajputbalance
Meditation is usually still, silent and done with closed eyes &mdash; but for Pune-based rock balancing artist Saurabh Rajput (below), mindfulness comes through balancing stones. Rajput says balancing depends on three simple principles: &ldquo;There should be a possibility for friction,&rdquo; he explains. Secondly, rocks need &ldquo;three points of contact&rdquo;; anything less or more fails aesthetically or structurally. Finally, the stones must &ldquo;align in the path of gravity&rdquo; and you are all set to go. To learn this meditative art, check out @saurabhraj putbalance.
<h2>Agla station... &nbsp;Illustration</h2>
Between the scramble for window seats and the familiar cry of &ldquo;side dena&rdquo;, Mumbai&rsquo;s local trains carry countless untold stories each day. For design student Arthi GJ, they became the subject of a visual documentation project.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Lakshmi_e.jpg" alt="An illustration of Rahul, a vendor who sells knick-knacks in the local train (right) Tai and Lakshmi sell flags and jewellery in Mumbai local trains. Illustrations courtesy/arthi_gj" width="1280" height="720" /> An illustration of Rahul, a vendor who sells knick-knacks in the local train (right) Tai and Lakshmi sell flags and jewellery in Mumbai local trains. Illustrations courtesy/arthi_gj
As part of course work in<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/iit-bombay-partners-with-columbia-university-to-launch-ai-centre-for-manufacturing-23616354" rel="nofollow"> Masters in Design at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay</a>, students Arthi, along with Mansi Jain and Aiman Aslam, travelled across the Western, Central and Harbour railway lines to document women and a few male vendors working inside local trains.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Arthi-GJ_e.jpg" alt="Arthi GJ" width="1280" height="720" /> Arthi GJ
&ldquo;Since vending in trains is illegal, many women were hesitant to speak openly and remained alert to police presence throughout their conversations. To protect their identities, the team chose illustration over photography,&rdquo; Arthi added while talking about the project.
<h2>Period of change</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Masik-Mahaotsav_e.jpg" alt="Folk artistes participate in a cultural programme during the Period Festival in Zambia. Pics courtesy/Nishant Bangera" width="1280" height="720" /> Folk artistes participate in a cultural programme during the Period Festival in Zambia. Pics courtesy/Nishant Bangera
The 10th edition of Maasika Mahotsav draws to a close today. It saw participation from seven countries, and included 38 organisations.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Rally-poster_e.jpg" alt="A participant holds a poster for open conversations around menstruation" width="1280" height="720" /> A participant holds a poster for open conversations around menstruation
In the April 29 edition of mid-day, &lsquo;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/article/the-menopause-muscle-gap-why-being-45-years-is-the-new-protein-prime-for-indian-women-23618746" rel="nofollow">Meno-pause the stigma</a>&rsquo;, Nishant Bangera, the festival&rsquo;s founder, told this diarist that this year&rsquo;s festival had included widespread acceptance about menopause.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Nishant-Bangera_e.jpg" alt="Nishant Bangera" width="1280" height="720" /> Nishant Bangera
&ldquo;Be it Kenya, Chile or Zambia, they have adopted the festival in their own regions.&rdquo;
<h2>Coding gold</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Robotics-club_e.jpg" alt="A display of medals at the American Computer Science League. Pics courtesy/American Computer Science League" width="1280" height="720" />A display of medals at the American Computer Science League. Pics courtesy/American Computer Science League
From classrooms in Mumbai, to one of the world&rsquo;s toughest computer science arenas, four young coders have scripted a remarkable win. Competing at the American Computer Science League finals, the students &mdash; trained by Mumbai-based initiative Code With Floppy &mdash; brought home three gold medals and one bronze.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Hariharan_e.jpg" alt="(From left) Ved and Vir Hariharan" width="1280" height="720" /> (From left) Ved and Vir Hariharan
Niyoshi Chedda of Hillspring International School won gold in the elementary division, while Krisha Maheshwari of &nbsp;The Green Acres School, Chembur, secured bronze.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Krisha-Maheshwari_e.jpg" alt="(From left) Krisha Maheshwari, Niyoshi Chedda" width="1280" height="720" /> (From left) Krisha Maheshwari, Niyoshi Chedda
Ved and Vir Hariharan, both Grade 10 students also from the Chembur school, claimed gold in the junior division. Founder Bhavna Jhunjhunwala called this a historic win.

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Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

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