Mumbai Diary page: Friday Frolics

Nelly, the Ellie, and ice buckets
Mumbai is talking about... the ice bucket challenge. This global fun phenomenon (going all over the world) with a serious charitable aspect to it, has caught the imagination of the Mumbaikar, too.

Animal keepers Frithjof Behlau (L) und Oliver Kant of central German wild life Serengeti Park Hodenhagen pour a bucket of water onto female elephant Nelly during an Ice Bucket Challenge. Pic/AFP

Two girls were discussing the challenge at a restaurant at Shivaji Park recently. "You throw a bucket of ice water on your head. Everybody is doing it," said a girl to her friend. "Then, I think you have to nominate people to do this and I think some money goes to charity," she stated.

When her dinner companion asked what is the charity she stated, "God knows some ALS disease. I think it is like Parkinsons or something." We tell the gals and all of Mumbai actually, that the challenge is an initiative to raise awareness and funds for Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

So, now you know. As for those who want to know more about ALS, well google it gals… and guys. Meanwhile, for this elephant and ice bucket pic, well elephants are the flavour of the season.

Kabaddi Kraze
Call it the Pro Kabaddi League spell. This diaryist spotted a group of youngsters playing the game at Juhu Beach, recently.

Kabaddi is now becoming a favourite outdoor game for young people in the city. Pic/Uday Devrukhkar

In a country where cricket takes over every nook and corner, it was refreshing to see and hear the chants of "Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi!"

The promoters must be delighted.