<h2>India is in good hands</h2>
The display of the Indian National Flag ahead of India vs <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/sanjay-raut-says-bjp-forced-to-pick-marathi-mayor-after-strong-bmc-voter-support-23615648" rel="nofollow">USA T20 World Cup</a> match at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday
<h2>Dreams come true</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/TDDP_e.jpg" alt="Children from The Dharavi Dream Project (TDDP) perform Dharavi Dreams. Pics courtesy/TDDP" width="1280" height="720" />Children from The Dharavi Dream Project (TDDP) perform Dharavi Dreams. Pics courtesy/TDD
Young performers from The Dharavi Dream Project (TDDP) lit up the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival on February 8 with their 15th show.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Neha-Singh_e.jpg" alt="Neha Singh" width="1280" height="720" /> Neha Singh
Writer-director Neha Singh told this diarist, &ldquo;The kids are performing with their heart, as the inspiration is quite literally drawn from their personal lives,&rdquo; adding that the minutes&rsquo;-long applause made the children very happy.
<h2>Peas of mind</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Lotus-Headed_e.jpg" alt="&lsquo;The Lotus Headed&rsquo; presented at India Art Fair 2026. Pics courtesy/Chanakya School of Craft" width="1280" height="720" /> &lsquo;The Lotus Headed&rsquo; presented at India Art Fair 2026. Pics courtesy/Chanakya School of Craft
Chanakya School of Craft and founder Karishma Swali announced the inaugural Swali Craft Prize at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/kulpreet-singhs-extinction-archive-memorialises-endangered-species-at-india-art-fair-23615552#:~:text=India&#3720Art&#3720Fair&#37202026&#373A&#3720Kulpreet,Extinction&#3720Archive'&#3720memorialises&#3720endangered&#3720species&amp;text=Coloured&#3720drawings&#3720of&#3720over&#3720900,&#372C&#3720where&#3720will&#3720we&#3720reach&#373F&#3722" rel="nofollow">India Art Fair 2026</a>, awarding it to Indian artist Natasha Preenja, known as Princess Pea.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Natasha-Preenja_e.jpg" alt="(Left) Natasha Preenja (Princess Pea) and Karishma Swali" width="1280" height="720" /> (Left) Natasha Preenja (Princess Pea) and Karishma Swali
Her winning work, The Lotus Headed, draws from Lajja Gauri, an ancient fertility figure, grounding the piece in bodily knowledge, protest, and endurance. Swali reiterated, &ldquo;The Lotus Headed unfolded through dialogue, trust, and shared authorship, transforming individual intention into a collective expression.&rdquo;
<h2>Honour rolls</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Radhika-Chopra_e.jpg" alt="(From left) Radhika Chopra, Nupur Dalmia, Anu Menda, Kiran Nadar, Gurmeet Rai, Raghu Rai, and Pheroza Godrej. Pics courtesy/Asia Society India Centre" width="1280" height="720" /> (From left) Radhika Chopra, Nupur Dalmia, Anu Menda, Kiran Nadar, Gurmeet Rai, Raghu Rai, and Pheroza Godrej. Pics courtesy/Asia Society India Centre
The celebratory night in Delhi acquired a touch of class as the quiet Raghu Rai made an appearance at the 10th Asia Arts Game Changer Awards on February 6. The veteran photographer was presented the Asia Arts Vanguard Honour, following names such as Krishen Khanna, Vivan Sundaram, and Akbar Padamsee on the honour rolls.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Raghu-Rai_e.jpg" alt="Raghu Rai" width="1280" height="720" /> Raghu Rai
The Mumbai-based studio, Camp, was honoured with the Asia Arts Pathbreaker Award, while the Asia Arts Future India Award went to &nbsp;artist Kulpreet Singh. &ldquo;As India and Asia&rsquo;s position in the world evolves, our understanding of this South Asian voice moves with it. I am looking forward to what the next decade of listening to these voices will bring,&rdquo; Inakshi Sobti, CEO, Asia Society India Centre, told this diarist.&nbsp;
<h2>VR curious</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Dancing-Forest_e.jpg" alt="The Dancing Forest. Pics courtesy/AniMela" width="1280" height="720" /> The Dancing Forest. &nbsp;Pics courtesy/AniMela
When the 2026 edition of the Animela opens on February 19, Mumbaikars will experience a &lsquo;transmedia display of art, animation, VFX, and VR&rsquo; coming together, promised co-founders Anne Doshi, and Archana Trasy.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/feb/Anne-Doshi_e.jpg" alt="Anne Doshi and Archana Trasy" width="1280" height="720" /> Anne Doshi and Archana Trasy
&ldquo;Keep an eye out for our VR installations. One installation allows you to experience <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/attend-this-nature-walk-to-explore-the-uniqueness-of-aarey-forest-in-mumbai-at-twilight-23609672" rel="nofollow">forests </a>in nature recreated through Gond Art,&rdquo; Trasy added. We&rsquo;&rsquo;ll be waiting to witness the spectacle.

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Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

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