Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

A flippinrsquo good timeA man shows off his acrobatic skills at Girgaum Chowpatty on MondayPlate for a changeJijo an artist with Down Syndrome featured on The Plated Project pageMarch 21 is recognised as National Down Syndrome Day To spread awareness about the genetic condition citybased initiative The Plated Project that ropes in artists to fight social causes by creating art plates has announced an open call The theme is Trisomy mdash a celebration of individuality Artists need to submit their entries by March 27 and get 25 per cent of the profits on each sale The proceeds will also help sponsor meals for the needy ldquoJobs and opportunities are a major issue for people with Down Syndrome We donrsquot have a limit as to how many entries will be selected The idea is to raise awareness if more people create art and share it on social media then more people will ask questions such as lsquoWhat is Trisomyrsquordquo founder Chitresh Sinha explained Visit theplatedproject on Instagram for submission guidelinesRussian spiritDr Sergei Fandeev watches Maslenitsarsquos effigy being burnt PicPradeep DhivarThe Russian Centre for Science and Culture off Peddar Road was on Sunday agog with the festive spirit of Maslenitsa the countryrsquos own spring festival Russian compatriots settled in India attended the event with their families Dr Sergei Fandeev the centrersquos director told this diarist about how the festival is similar to Holi ldquoWe burn an effigy of Maslensita just like you burn an effigy of Holika This is a really ancient Russian custom We organise it in Mumbai so that our Russian compatriots here donrsquot lose touch with their countryrsquos customsrdquo Fandeev shared adding that people feasted on bliny a traditional Russian pancake and puranpoliToo many chefs add to the funSeefah Ketchaiyo and Karan BaneCooking with Ranveer Brar is a YouTube channel that the celebrity chef hosts where he prepares recipes that viewers can easily rustle up in their home kitchens A recent episode had two special guests mdash city chefs Karan Bane and Seefah Ketchaiyo his partner It also happened to be Seefahrsquos birthday and it was fun watching the three culinary maestros share a laugh as Brar was absolved of cooking duties since his guests showed what it takes to make a green Thai curryRanveer BrarBrar also prepared a game where Bane and Seefah were taken aside and asked questions about each other with the other person having to guess what the answers are Bane also revealed that his favourite song is Zingaat from the Marathi movie Sairat which he had made the guests at his wedding in Thailand dance to ldquoThe most fun bit for me was that the shoot was casual There was nothing scripted about itrdquo he told this diaristSo long Laxman PaiLaxman Pai receives the Padma Bhushan from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018Renowned painter Laxman Pai passed away at his home in Goarsquos Dona Paula on Sunday at the age of 95 An outspoken artist he taught at Sir JJ School of Art before being expelled for standing up to the authorities later shifting to Paris Puneet Shah founder of Akara art gallery in Colaba which has displayed Pairsquos works shared ldquoHis days in Paris were the most interesting there was dialogue between him and people like Ram Kumar Pairsquos peer thererdquoA blooming ideaUnless your poetrywriting skills are mdash excuse the pun mdash verse than abysmal send in your entries for a poetry and creativewriting contest that Blooming Kalakar an artistsrsquo group is organising The poems have to be a minimum of 50 words and the last date for submissions is March 21 But be warned entries containing clicheacutes like lsquoRoses are redrsquo will be immediately consigned to the waste bin and only original works will be considered Log on to bloomingkalakarcom if you have what it takes