<h2>Circle of festivities</h2>
Onam celebrations at a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-apmc-market-exposed-cable-raises-electrocution-fears-after-nerul-incident-23639617" rel="nofollow">Nerul </a>mall featured a nine-metre-long pookalam, along with other floral decor and performances.
<h2>City between the lines</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Koranne-Khandekar_e.jpg" alt="Pic courtesy/@skoranne" width="1280" height="720" /> Pic courtesy/@skoranne
Readers, every city has stories that rarely make it to the pages of a sharply compiled anthology. The City: An Anthology of New Indian Writing (Hammock Press) will bring together 10 such short stories and seven essays by authors including Saee Koranne-Khandekar, Shruti Sonal, Dilsher Dhillon and others, which will explore class, caste, gender, climate anxiety, renting and what progress means.
<h2>Pokemon takes a skate ride</h2>
From &ldquo;Gotta Catch &rsquo;Em All&rdquo; to collecting art, Pok&eacute;mon nostalgia is taking a new form in the city. With <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/love-pokemon-attend-pokemon-go-city-safari-to-explore-the-universe-in-mumbai-this-march-23504812" rel="nofollow">Pok&eacute;mon </a>TCG&rsquo;s 30th Celebration set to launch globally on September 16, graffiti artist Mooz Graffiti aka Raj Pathare is giving the franchise his own spin through skateboard decks. A Pok&eacute;mon card collector himself, Pathare has created around six customised boards, each designed as a one-of-one collectible.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Skate-ride_e.jpg" alt="Raj Pathare, aka Mooze Graffiti, with the Pok&eacute;mon skateboards (right) An image of Blastoise, a water-type Pok&eacute;mon, and the final evolution of Squirtle. Pics courtesy/Mooz Graffiti" width="1280" height="720" /> Raj Pathare, aka Mooze Graffiti, with the Pok&eacute;mon skateboards (right) An image of Blastoise, a water-type Pok&eacute;mon, and the final evolution of Squirtle. Pics courtesy/Mooz Graffiti
The excited artist told us, &ldquo;As of now I have the Elementals series which features four decks inspired by earth, fire, water and space, with Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise and Mewtwo representing each theme.&rdquo; Our advice? Get your hands on one soon, as he said, &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t repeat that design, so technically, you own a one-of-one piece &mdash; those are truly unique.&rdquo;
<h2>Lalbaug to Hyderabad</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Nampalli-ka-raja_e.jpg" alt="Nampally Ka Raja in Hyderabad" width="1280" height="720" /> Nampally Ka Raja in Hyderabad
Is it just this diarist, or does the city wait till September for the air to feel more magical with the arrival of Ganeshotsav? Hyderabad also welcomes the festival with equal excitement. Swaranjali Brass Band, the Lalbaug-based troupe led by former Indian Navy trumpeter Mahesh Devlekar, travelled to Hyderabad on August 21 and 22 for the aagman of Nampally Ka Raja.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Swaranjali-band_e.jpg" alt="Mahesh Devlekar (centre, with trumpet) with other band members during the celebration. Pics courtesy/ Swaranjali Brass Band" width="1280" height="720" /> Mahesh Devlekar (centre, with trumpet) with other band members during the celebration. Pics courtesy/ Swaranjali Brass Band
Speaking about the crowd, Devlekar told this diarist, &ldquo;People were equally excited for the festival as they are in Mumbai. We played songs like, Appadi Podu and many other classics, and to say that the crowd was energetic would be an understatement.&rdquo;
<h2>Calendar chronicles</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Avani-Raghi-Rai_e.jpg" alt="A dated photo of Avani Rai with Raghu Rai. Pics courtesy/artiste&rsquo;s Instagram" width="1280" height="720" /> A dated photo of Avani Rai with Raghu Rai. Pics courtesy/artiste&rsquo;s Instagram
When we wrote of the passing of ace lensman Raghu Rai, the general consensus was that India&rsquo;s streets will miss their favourite observer. It seems that love is to be reborn in a conversation between the present and the past. The 2027 edition of the Pirelli Calendar will see Avani Rai crosshatch time by photographing the streets captured by her father, as they are today.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Rupi-Kaur_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Like the late Rai&rsquo;s subjects, the calendar will focus on the Indian connection, with <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/norway-football-federation-calls-for-resignation-of-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-23643676" rel="nofollow">Norwegian photographer</a> S&oslash;lve Sundsb&oslash; training his lenses on some familiar faces. While Padma Lakshmi and Freida Pinto are among the familiar names, musician Anoushka Shankar (right) and poet Rupi Kaur (left) add to a diverse group that will be part of the shoot in Jaipur. Happy clicking, we say.

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Circle of festivities

City between the lines

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Mumbai / Mumbai News / Article / Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier