<h2>Drum roll time</h2>
A dhol tasha pathak rests before the arrival of<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/photo/in-photos-ganpati-aagman-2026-huge-crowds-welcome-lord-ganesha-idols-in-parel-lalbaug-112546" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Ganpati at Lalbaug</a>
<h2>Mrs G, unplugged</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Sonia-ax_e.jpg" alt="Sonia Gandhi. File pic" width="1280" height="720" /> Sonia Gandhi. File pic
She is known for her graceful, measured public persona, but former Indian National Congress (INC) president<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/vande-mataram-row-amit-shah-accuses-congress-of-insulting-national-song-demands-apology-23645096" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Sonia Gandhi </a>will break the mould with news that her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love (Alfred A Knopf/Penguin Random House India), that will release on November 10. Coming from the longest serving president of the INC, wife to a Prime Minister, daughter-in-law of another, this promises to be a riveting read.
<h2>Get hip about climate change</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Ashwini-Hiremath_e.jpg" alt="Ashwini Hiremath. Pic Courtesy/@krantinaari" width="1280" height="720" /> Ashwini Hiremath. Pic Courtesy/@krantinaari
Remember making up songs to remember chemistry formulae? Well, the Climate Energy Mixtape does the same for climate awareness. The project, built by Youth Ki Awaaz (YKA), Ashwini Hiremath aka Krantinaari, Asar, Folk Soul and Climate Culture Collective, features six songs about climate change by six young hip-hop artistes.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Anand-Gandhi_e.jpg" alt="Rappers Alkama, Devanshi, and Anshul Tewari" width="1280" height="720" /> Rappers Alkama, Devanshi, and Anshul Tewari
&ldquo;Even though climate change is talked about, it is not seeping into a large part of the population. The concept uses hip-hop to bring climate conversation to the mainstream in a way scientific date reports will not,&rdquo; Anshul Tewari, founder, YKA, told this diarist.&nbsp;
<h2>The upside-down visitor</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Parrot_e.jpg" alt="The Vernal Hanging Parrot. Pic Courtesy/Karan Solanki" width="1280" height="720" />The Vernal Hanging Parrot. Pic Courtesy/Karan Solanki
This diarist&rsquo;s curiosity was piqued when she learnt that photographer Karan Solanki (below) travelled to the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/travel/article/travel-special:-mapping-the-deccan-plateau-16089189" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Deccan Plateau </a>in search of a parrot. It doubled when he shared images of the Vernal Hanging Parrot, known for hanging and feeding upside down.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Karan-Solanki_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
When we asked Solanki about the bird, he mentioned, &ldquo;They are different from the Rose-Ringed and Alexandrine <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/thane-9-parakeets-rescued-man-detained-for-smuggling--23313852" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Parakeets </a>we usually see. During the monsoon, they migrate across the Western Ghats, which is a rare sight.&rdquo;
<h2>Click-happy in the city</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Hotel-Taj_e.jpg" alt="Pic Courtesy/Harshraj Sahani" width="1280" height="720" /> Pic Courtesy/Harshraj Sahani
There is a new reason to take the bus home today. On World Photography Day today, passengers on Cityflo transport across the city will be able to view photographs of city structures from the Gateway of India to Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Mani Bhavan taken by students of BMC-run schools. The project is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Cityflo and Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF) NGO.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Prithvi-Zende_e.jpg" alt="Pic Courtesy/Prithvi Zende" width="1280" height="720" /> Pic Courtesy/Prithvi Zende
&ldquo;Photography has given our students a new way to engage with their city, and the confidence to share their perspective,&rdquo; shared Savio Pashana, head of communications, SBF. While Sankalp Kelshikar, co-founder, Cityflo added, &ldquo;These photographs are a reminder of how differently young people see their city.&rdquo;
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Salaam-Bombay_e.jpg" alt="Pic Courtesy/Komal Sutar" width="1280" height="720" /> Pic Courtesy/Komal Sutar
As for the students, it was the chance of a lifetime. Take Harshraj Sahani who marked his first visit to the Gateway of India with snapshots. &ldquo;I had seen it in pictures before, but seeing it in real life and clicking its pictures myself was really fun. I tried to take the best picture I could,&rdquo; he said.

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

Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Drum roll time

Mrs G, unplugged

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