Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Pic/Shadab Khan

Hips don't lie

Colourful leggings are displayed on mannequins as shoppers browse through the wares of a shop near Bandra railway station

Checkmate in Kurla

Vidit Gujrathi at a competition earlier this year. PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM

It will be a walk down memory lane for Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi when he steps into the ongoing Big Chess Inter School Tournament in Kurla tomorrow. Organised by ChessBase India, the competition has brought the brightest young prodigies from Mumbai under one roof. The winners, set to be declared tomorrow, will be given the opportunity to play an exhibition game against Gujrathi. "I remember frequenting such events when I was just 10 years old, and playing against grandmasters like Abhijit Kunte and Pravin Thipsay in Nashik. It shaped me as a young chess player. I hope the tournament gives us more champions and grandmasters in the years to come," he shared with us.

These women won't stop

Neha Singh at the first campaign in 2014

A decade ago, a group of women led by Neha Singh took over Nana Nani park in Andheri West in an effort to reclaim the space for women late at night. This Saturday, Why Loiter? campaign will celebrate the occasion with a walk in Andheri, founder Singh shared.

Participants at a recent session

"When we started out, this idea of women reclaiming spaces was thought of to be elitist. Now, feminists and the queer community understand that your presence in public spaces, with complete abandon, is integral in the fight for gender equality," she remarked.

The lit music shows

A candlelight concert performed at Villa Clerici Milan in 2023

Candles, music and peace seem to be the key for the upcoming Candlelight Concerts by Live Your City. Starting on June 2, the unique multi-sensory experience will arrive in Mumbai after travelling 150 cities.

"We condensed the duration from the typical 90 minutes to a more approachable 60 minutes, and hosted performances in unique spaces beyond formal concert halls," shared Deepa Bajaj (inset), country head. With multiple performances in Mumbai through June, July and August, Bajaj felt that the concerts will resonate deeply with Indian audiences.

Orchids in Borivali

The Acampe orchid spotted in IC colony

City-based marine biologist Gaurav Patil's annual monsoon ritual includes heading to the Konkan to spot orchids. This year, Patil (right) received an early surprise closer to home when he spotted orchids of the Acampe genus growing on a tree trunk in IC Colony, Borivali.

"These orchids are epiphytes. They absorb moisture and nutrients from the air to survive. They're abundant in the Konkan, especially in Sindhudurg, where the unpolluted air offers a conducive environment. Around Mumbai, you might spot them in Tungareshwar or Karnala inside protected sanctuaries. Spotting it in Borivali was a pleasant surprise," he revealed to this diarist.

Pedal for a change

Satish Bharti with his bicycle in Thane

Diva's SMG Vidyamandir has found its own fitness influencer in Physical Training (PT) instructor Satish Bharti. In an attempt to promote fitness, Bharti has pledged to cycle to school every day starting next week. "I grew up cycling in my hometown in Solapur every day. But children in the city today don't have the luxury of time and open spaces. The initiative is a way to inculcate movement without disturbing our daily schedules," he revealed. Bharti also plans to embark on a solo cycling trip from Mumbai to Solapur later this year.