Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

So what if it rains on our paradeMembers of the Mumbai Police march in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus during a dress rehearsal for the Independence Day paradeStrains from the desertPadma Shri Lakha Khan one of the last remaining performers of the 27string sarangi Pics CourtesyJodhpur RIFF OIJOFrom the 27string sarangi to the Bhutanese dranyen to dhrupad and Carnatic a menagerie of music will echo through the Mehrangarh Palace in October for the annual edition of Jodhpur RIFF 2025The festival which commences on October 2 will see performers from Uzbekistan Finland Portugal among South Asian Middle Eastern European performers collaborating with Indian folk artistes ldquoThe exposure for folk musicians in India is best when they collaborate with artists from other countries It leads to greater mutual respect and authenticityrdquo Divya Bhatia above festival director told usA walk down historyParticipants pose to showcase their attire during the fashion show Pic CourtesyJai Vakeel FoundationIn a week that celebrates freedom it seems apt that the National Gallery of Modern Art NGMA Mumbai played host to individuals with special abilities taking centrestage As part of the ongoing threeday Loomanaries exhibition celebrating traditional handloom heritage and textiles speciallyabled individuals and children from the NGOs Jai Vakeel Foundation and Suryoday Trust alongwith Tisser Artisan Trust and the Ministry of Textiles showcased the fabrics in a unique show on August 13 ldquoThis was a show to celebrate the long tradition and heritage of handloom that came into existence across India In fact the NGMA has a deep connection to the heritage since the gallery space often hosted Mahatma Gandhirsquos speeches during his stay in Bombay back then The highlight was the children taking to the ramp in the morningrdquo revealed Nidhi Choudhari director NGMABarcelona buzz in our tippleCloud cocktailMumbai will get a bit of Gaudi this week and we mean it as a compliment Ranked among the top 10 Best Bars in the World Paradiso from Barcelona has been hosting a takeover at Late Checkout for two nights August 13 and 14 ldquoExpect cocktails that blend Mediterranean elegance with theatrical innovation through classics like The Great Gatsby with its whiskytruffle honeysmoke ritual or Kriptonita with its electric citrus punchrdquo shared Giacomo Giannotti founder But the city might leave a mark on Giannotti who shared that the cityrsquos warmth colour and hospitality are inspiringDrift into serenityPic CourtesyEHV InternationalIF you are looking for a quiet place in Mumbai to sip your afternoon coffee or a bar to dropin after work Drift has got you covered Newlyopened on August 11 the space in Lower Parel offers comfort and luxury in a Europeanstyle setting ldquoA fluid allday place that adapts effortlessly to the rhythm of Mumbai the design is contemporary and equally inviting for a quick meeting lunch or an evening outrdquo Nitin Mathur COO EHV International told this diaristFreedom in different huesThe fourth edition of the annual Independence Project will focus on the theme of slowing down rather than hyping up The annual congregation of artists thinkers poets and writers will kick off today at the restored heritage site of IFBE at Ballard Estate ldquoThis is not a festival of urgency or spectacle It is an offering of time of space of possibility Each work invites you to slow down to notice to inhabit the present fully In the quiet art of presence lies a deeper kind of freedom mdash one no external power can grant or take awayrdquo added curator Sarita Vijayan below To this end the events will feature midnight cycling rides through SoBo improv theatre as well as the curtain raiser of Anand Gandhi and Zain Memonrsquos new project Maya