<h2>Larger than life</h2>
<p>Artists add final touches to a 20-ft eco-friendly statue of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar that will be displayed at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/gudi-padwa-2026-all-you-need-to-know-from-girgaon-to-thane-experience-grand-celebrations-across-cities-23621449" rel="nofollow">Gudi Padwa</a> celebrations in Girgaon today</p>
<h2>Ode to the goddesses</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/Godesses_e.jpg" alt="A rough sketch of the diorama; (right) a section from the display. PICS COURTESY/SUNIL KOTHARE" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>A rough sketch of the diorama; (right) a section from the display. PICS COURTESY/SUNIL KOTHARE</em></strong></p>
<p>How many goddesses of Mumbai can you name?&rdquo; Dr Anita Rane-Kothare (below), former head of the department of AIHCA, St Xavier&rsquo;s College, quizzed us yesterday. Dr Anita and husband Sunil Kothare are putting together a unique diorama featuring nine goddesses of the city at the upcoming Gudi Padwa celebrations in Malad&rsquo;s Mamletdarwadi.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/Ayushi-Kedia_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>These include the more widely recognised Mumbadevi, and Kalbadevi, alongside Patladevi of Malad, and Harbadevi of Madh. &ldquo;The definition of what Mumbai comprises has changed over the years, and so, we must know about the deities from neighbourhoods beyond South Mumbai and Bandra. We&rsquo;re looking forward to displaying them in the presence of more than 500 revellers,&rdquo; she told this diarist. The visual learners among us can head to the vibrant celebrations this morning.</p>
<h2>Clean sweep</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/Waste-collected_e.jpg" alt="Nandakumar Pawar with the waste collected from Elephanta Island" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Nandakumar Pawar with the waste collected from Elephanta Island</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/mumbai-join-a-clean-up-drive-at-elephanta-caves-island-to-tackle-plastic-pollution-23620760" rel="nofollow">Elephanta Island</a> knows how to walk the talk. After The Guide section in mid-day reported the Sagarshakti group&rsquo;s plan to clear 3000 kg of waste from the island last weekend, senior officer Nandakumar Pawar dropped us a happy message last morning: &ldquo;Mission accomplished!&rdquo; The &lsquo;elephantine&rsquo; collection was courtesy of volunteers, the Maharashtra Forest Department, and local fishermen. A clean sweep, quite literally.</p>
<h2>Chef&rsquo;s notes</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/Hemant-Oberoi_e.jpg" alt="TVM Chancellor Dr S Srikumar presents an award to (right) Hemant Oberoi" /><br /><strong><em>TVM Chancellor Dr S Srikumar presents an award to (right) Hemant Oberoi</em></strong></p>
<p>Sweet and sour&rsquo; could describe legendary chef Hemant Oberoi&rsquo;s mood nowadays. Oberoi is all smiles after recently receiving an honorary Doctor of Literature from the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TVM), Pune. Concern lies in the UAE, he told this diarist, where his restaurants Martabaan and Indikaya are facing &ldquo;negligible business due to the West Asia conflict.&rdquo; Closer to home, in Mumbai, foodies reminiscing Oberoi&rsquo;s magic can turn to his cloud venture OB&rsquo;s Kitchen, which he calls &ldquo;quite different from running a restaurant, yet satisfying.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>See to believe</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/mar/Bolavita-a_e.jpg" alt="Visually impaired members and sighted guides experience (right) the play Bolavita Dhani. PICS COURTESY/BLINDS WHO TREK; Saurabh Talpade" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Visually impaired members and sighted guides experience (right) the play Bolavita Dhani. PICS COURTESY/BLINDS WHO TREK; Saurabh Talpade</em></strong></p>
<p>Watching a play took on a different meaning at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/gudi-padwa-2026-mumbai-police-issue-traffic-advisory-for-mns-event-at-shivaji-park-no-parking-on-7-dadar-roads-23621483?en-breakingnews" rel="nofollow">Shivaji Mandir</a> in Dadar last Sunday. An audience of visually-impaired individuals were invited by director Hrishikesh Joshi to witness the Marathi play, Bolavita Dhani. With a sighted individual seated between two visually-impaired people and relaying the incidents, the experience was unique for both the actors and the audience. &ldquo;They had a great time. We met the cast after the show, and some of our members recalled the lines perfectly, much to the surprise of the cast,&rdquo; shared Siddesh Nayak, founder, Blinds Who Trek.</p>

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

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


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