<h2>All-weather friend</h2>
A pet dog is all smiles as it enjoys a light drizzle with its <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/mumbai-for-kids-why-kurla-s-happy-planet-fails-to-impress-15962191" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">owner in Kurla</a>
<h2>Mumbai to Mars, via Poland</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Avyaan-Mars_e.jpg" alt="The Martian rover Avyaan was developed in-house by the students of the Vile Parle college. PICS COURTESY/DJS ANTARIKSH TEAM" width="1280" height="720" />The Martian rover Avyaan was developed in-house by the students of the Vile Parle college. PICS COURTESY/DJS ANTARIKSH TEA
Students of DJ Sanghvi College of Engineering in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-vile-parle-footpaths-clogged-with-obstructions-despite-civic-promises-23635815" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Vile Parle are over the moon</a>, or should we say Mars, this week. DJS Antariksh, the student Martian rover team from the college, has qualified for the upcoming European Rover Challenge in Krakow, Poland this September.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Avyaan-team-2_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
The team will travel to the AGH University of Krakow with their rover Avyaan, which was built in-house by nearly 50 students. A simulated Martian environment at the university will put the rover to a tough test, they told us. &ldquo;We have worked really hard for the past six months.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Avyaan-no_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Last year, we finished seventh. This year, we&rsquo;re aiming for the win,&rdquo; said member Shaan Upadhyay, adding that nineteen members will travel to Poland to represent India against teams from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Japan among other countries.
<h2>Ten on the trot</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Swagath-Sivakumar_e.jpg" alt="(From left) Swagath Sivakumar and Shabnam Virmani perform a couplet" width="1280" height="720" />(From left) Swagath Sivakumar and Shabnam Virmani perform a couplet
It is a homecoming for the Mahindra Kabira Festival this year. The landmark 10th edition of the immersive festival which celebrates the work of the 15th Century mystic saint Kabir, returns to the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/regional-indian-cinema-news/article/varanasi-ss-rajamouli-mahesh-babu-to-shoot-massive-war-sequence-with-3500-junior-artistes-23637296" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">philosopher&rsquo;s hometown of Varanasi.</a>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Aruna-Sairam_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Presented by Mahindra Group, and Teamwork Arts, the festival will be held between December 4 and 6, featuring some familiar names such as the Padma Shri award-winning vocalist Aruna Sairam (left), Shabnam Virmani, Kamala Shankar, as well as bands such as Kabir Caf&eacute;, the Bengali folk-fusion band Fakira, and The Aahvaan Project among others. Talk about a star-studded line-up.
<h2>Finding Oliver</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Tanishi-oliver_e.jpg" alt="Oliver with Taniishi Masand. PIC COURTESY/TEAM PAW DIARIES" width="1280" height="720" /> Oliver with Taniishi Masand. PIC COURTESY/TEAM PAW DIARIES
Animal lovers of Kalyan spent last Christmas waiting for a miracle when their beloved community stray Oliver went missing. Seven months after animal welfare organisation Team Paw Diaries (@teampawdiaries) started an ongoing search operation, July will mark an important milestone. The month, we learned, is observed as Pet Loss Prevention Month. &ldquo;As a hat tip to Oliver, wherever he is, we will start an awareness programme on Instagram to educate people about measures to safeguard against such situations. Attaching QR-enabled collars, microchipping your pets and community animals, and educating locals are all feasible options,&rdquo; said founder Taniishi Masand. With such dedicated citizens in the suburb, it&rsquo;s safe to say the odds are in Oliver&rsquo;s favour.
<h2>Tree-riffic!</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Leaf-painting_e.jpg" alt="The banyan leaf painted by the artist. PICS COURTESY/SHREEHARI PAVALE" width="1280" height="720" /> The banyan leaf painted by the artist. PICS COURTESY/SHREEHARI PAVALE
The fallen leaf of a banyan tree in Koparkhairane&rsquo;s Sector 12 turned into inspiration for artist Shreehari Pavale (right). Just in time for the Vat Purnima celebrations in the city on June 29, the artist turned the leaf into his canvas to paint scenes of women participating in rituals.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/Shreehari-Pavale_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
&ldquo;It was quite serendipitous that I came across the leaves a day before the festival. I spent nearly two hours carefully painting the details,&rdquo; Pavale shared. We&rsquo;d like to see more artists take a leaf out of this eco-friendly artist&rsquo;s book.

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Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

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Mumbai to Mars, via Poland

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