<h2>Sea of faith</h2>
<p>Devotees are seen flocking to the Haji Ali Dargah off the coast of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-worli-becomes-india-s-ultra-luxury-residential-hub-with-inr-5500-cr-in-sales-over-two-years-23606259" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Worli</a></p>
<h2>Mumbai gets its fringe</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Simar-Singh_e.jpg" alt="Pics courtesy/Mumbai Fringe" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Pics courtesy/Mumbai Fringe</em></strong></p>
<p>March will bring its share of magical moments as the city prepares to open its first-ever Mumbai Fringe, starting on March 12. Hosted in Bandra, the four-day festival will witness events across the genres of spoken word, comedy, and performance arts. The city will now join Melbourne, Prague, Edinburgh, and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/uk-approves-china-controversial-super-embassy-in-london-despite-security-concerns-23612931" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">London</a> in the 2026 Fringe calendar. &ldquo;We are extremely excited that the dream of bringing Fringe to Mumbai has been realised. The city deserves to have its own,&rdquo; shared Steve Gove (above), founder-director, Prague Fringe and Mumbai Fringe. Co-founder, Simar Singh (below) added, &ldquo;We hope to give Mumbai an experience they never forget.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Prithvi Theatre&rsquo;s ode to the Ustad</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Zubin-rehearsal_e.jpg" alt="Ustad Zakir Hussain performs in Mumbai. File pic; (right) Zubin Balaporia rehearses for the show. Pic courtesy/Prithvi Theatre" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Ustad Zakir Hussain performs in Mumbai. File pic; (right) Zubin Balaporia rehearses for the show. Pic courtesy/Prithvi Theatre</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/47th-prithvi-festival-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-iconic-theatre-event-23600349" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Prithvi Theatre</a> is all set to debut at Lollapalooza India 2026, scheduled to kick off at Mahalaxmi Racecourse this weekend, with Prithvi Presents, a curated musical ensemble that pays tribute to late Ustad Zakir Hussain. Rooted in a relationship that began in 1984 through Prithvi&rsquo;s Memorial Concerts, the performance will reflect his commitment to nurturing artists and widening audiences. The show is scheduled to take place on January 24. Kunal Kapoor, trustee, Prithvi Theatre said, &ldquo;Presenting this ensemble allows us to extend Zakir saab&rsquo;s vision globally.&rdquo; Led by seasoned musicians Zubin Balaporia and Gino Banks, the ensemble will also feature young artistes. Balaporia added, &ldquo;With this performance, we hope to keep his memory alive.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Bappa goes green in Goregaon</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Ganesh-a_e.jpg" alt="Goregaon Cha Omkareshwar in procession. Pic courtesy/Om Sai Datta Mitra Mandal" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Goregaon Cha Omkareshwar in procession. Pic courtesy/Om Sai Datta Mitra Mandal</em></strong></p>
<p>Goregaon Cha Omkareshwar, at MG Road, Goregaon, is one of the Bappa idols prioritising sustainability for this <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maghi-ganesh-jayanti-fervour-grips-mumbai-siddhivinayak-rath-yatra-to-be-held-today-23613194" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Maghi Ganeshotsav</a> (which fell on January 22). &ldquo;The Ganesh idol is made entirely of paper (earlier, it was a clay idol) and has naturally-made colours. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to dissolve, avoiding contamination of water bodies during immersion. We also avoid using plastic bags for sweet distribution; we distribute cloth ones to devotees instead,&rdquo; shared Sanket Jalgaonkar, committee member of the Om Sai Datta Mitra Mandal.</p>
<h2>The stage is set</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Music-au_e.jpg" alt="A participant plays the guitar at the previous year&rsquo;s edition of the festival. Pic courtesy/@qknit foundation" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>A participant plays the guitar at the previous year&rsquo;s edition of the festival. Pic courtesy/@qknit foundation</em></strong></p>
<p>Members of the LGBTQiA+ community will take centre stage on January 24 at VG Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-water-cut-water-supply-to-be-disrupted-in-mulund-and-bhandup-parts-of-thane-to-also-be-affected-on-jan-27-28-check-details-here-23613254" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Mulund</a> for Anubhav, a youth festival led by city-based queer community, QKnit Foundation. &ldquo;It is open to participants between the ages of 18 and 35, especially college students.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Sumit-Pawar_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>We host this every year at colleges across Mumbai, to give queer voices a platform to tell their stories, and allow youngsters to interact with other like-minded people. Contests range from dance and instrument-playing to public speaking,&rdquo; founder Sumit Pawar (right) revealed to this diarist.</p>
<h2>True to the blues</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jan/Mahindra-blues_e.jpg" alt="Grace n&rsquo; the Cliches performs on stage. pic courtesy/Grace n&rsquo; the Cliches" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Grace n&rsquo; the Cliches performs on stage. pic courtesy/Grace n&rsquo; the Cliches</em></strong></p>
<p>New talent is on the horizon, ready to experience the spotlight in the upcoming edition of the Mahindra Blues Festival at Mehboob Studios, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-now-bandra-residents-seek-relief-from-two-wheeler-pain-23594902" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Bandra</a> on February 14 and 15. Bengaluru-based band, Grace n&rsquo; the Cliches has won the festival&rsquo;s Big Blues Band Hunt, which brings emerging talents in the blues genre from across India to the forefront. Expected to perform in Mumbai at the two-day festival, members of the group were undoubtedly elated. &ldquo;It is especially wonderful for us, considering there are very few spaces for blues artistes to perform and get exposure [to audiences],&rdquo; band member Neil Aryan mentioned. Member Grace Maureen further revealed to this diarist the band&rsquo;s intentions of bringing more progressive elements into the genre, saying, &ldquo;We&rsquo;d definitely like to add more transitions and variety, and show up for the Blues scene.&rdquo;</p>

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce: Devotees are seen flocking to the Haji Ali Dargah off the coast of Worli

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

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Sea of faith

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