The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Nimesh Dave
Circular Vision
A pedestrian appears to be walking in the centre of a series of large cement pipes placed along Goregaon Link Road
Run by the dice
A runner on the Mumbai-Pune highway at the break of dawn. Pic courtesy/@bombayrunning
Bombay Running, will be hosting a team running race inspired by Ludo, where runners move like game pieces and every distance is decided by the roll of a dice. The race called Pachisi will feature four teams and 16 runners who will cover a 135-km route from Diamond Garden in Chembur to Pune University on April 10, 2026. At each switch point, luck decides the distance to be run next. There are no pacing plans, no comfort zones and no certainty. The platform’s co-founder Deepak Oberoi shared, “This is a run based on luck. Be it the ghats, or a straight road, once the dice rolls, you run.” Check @bombayrunning if you’d like to sign up for this challenge.
Vashi’s global graffiti makeover
Vashi became the centre for a unique coming together of graffiti artists from across the world on Tuesday, December 16. Coming off the back of a recent session by mural artist Serpientesal aka Cindy Sandoval, the city seems to have attracted a new generation of urban artists looking to find inspiration among its redeveloped walls. “This was an initiative titled City Unites. This is the first edition of, hopefully, a series of sessions. We are hoping to bring together artists from across the world to share their ideas and art,” revealed graffiti artist Siddhesh Sapte aka NME (inset).
Graffiti by NME and his fellow artists. Pic Courtesy/@nmegraff
The collaboration saw over 26 artists from across Spain, Italy, France, Korea, Switzerland, Chile, and even Syria, join their fellow creators from India to create a common work. Alongside NME, graffiti artists from Mumbai included Mooz, Zake, Carter, DKrypt among others who joined the session.
“The art of graffiti and mural wall art is one of a community. We have all met and interacted over several competitions and collaborations across the world. So, I had reached out to them to explore the possibility of hosting them in the city. To have so many of them, and artists who have a reputation in the world of urban art, join us, was quite a thrill. The jam aims to celebrate street art culture, cross-cultural exchange, and to turn urban spaces into vibrant public art platforms,” revealed NME.
Celebrate with Bandra’s East Indians
Christmas decorations spotted in Bandra during a previous walk; (right) a crucifix lit up at Ranwar Square in Bandra. Pics courtesy/Minaz Ansari
Architect Minaz Ansari (below) will lead Mumbaikars on a guided walk along the lanes of old Bandra villages, from December 25 to 27. The session highlights how the East Indian community of the suburb celebrates Christmas in their own humble manner. “It’s very different from the loud, flashy, and more commercialised way in which the festival is celebrated in big cities. We explore areas like Waroda Road and Ranwar Village. In many of these inner lanes, the East Indian community creates a very mellow, soft atmosphere, with their own decorations and installations,” Ansari described to this diarist, adding, “The sense of boundary is very fluid there, as neighbours closely engage with each other. You can even smell dinner being cooked as you pass by.” Popular Bandra trumpeter Joe Vessaokar will also join Ansari. Those interested can log on to @gohalluhallu for bookings and queries.
Decor all the way
The winning crib by Sacred Heart Church from 2024. Pic courtesy/Carl Sequeira
It is that time of the year when homes, lanes, and neighbourhoods across Bandra prep up cribs ahead of Christmas Eve. “Christmas is all about celebrations, but also specific to Bandra, Khar and Santacruz, is the charm of the Christmas cribs. This is our second annual edition of the competition. This year, we have expanded it to institutions i.e churches, schools and gymkhanas; community neighbourhoods, and even homes,” shared organiser Carl Sequeira, who added, “The four-member jury will also be looking at the messaging, and the idea behind the décor.” The last date for entries is December 19. Those keen for more details about the competition, should call 9820919199.
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