This Sunday, you can play with colors with Tata Housing at The Mumbai Wallbook

Some time ago, on September 2009, small group of special children and their well wishers had gathered at SBP School at Belapur,CBD to paint the building. They were not aware of what they were to paint but as soon as the paint boxes were opened and paint brushes given into their hands, their imagination ran wild and in four hours the school building donned an artistic look. There was much laughter in the building as children proudly pointed out at their colorful creations on the walls of the building.

Over the time, the wall project has taken place in many parts of Mumbai and each time it has been successful.

The first time I saw this wall project was in August2009, when I drove down the street of Tulsi pipe road and people had gathered there with paint and brushes in their hands, randomly painting the walls, what they created at the end of the day was spectacular. There was a freedom to express themselves in vibrant colors.

Here once again

Tata Housing Splashes Colour with the Mumbai Wallbook!

I am sure it will a fun event, what with excitement of creating  something picturesque out of nothing, that is the power of paint and imaginations…sounds good?

Want to be part of this event?

Register at https://www.facebook.com/MumbaiWallbook       

 Artists can participate individually or in groups, and if you don’t like painting but are very interested in photography? Well you have a muse….all you will do is click, click and click…….

How often do you get to record the event, which changes colorful strokes by a minute?

Be there at Tulsi Pipe Road between Mahim and Dadar to see the graphics unfold

Wake up early on Sunday morning, on 20^th May, the event starts at 7am.

 The Mumbai WallBook is an attempt by Tata Housing & Brand Promotions India Pvt. Ltd. to bring professional, amateur and budding artists on the same platform to showcase their skills and create a record for the longest wall painting.

 To know more about the event and for registrations please log on to www.facebook.com/tatahousing   or contact08652675485, 08652674816

Twitter Hash Tag: #Mumbaiwallbook

Asthika Samaj Mandir at Matunga, Mumbai

Matunga is the suburb famous for its south Indian cuisine.


Many years ago, my neighbor used to make early morning regular visit to this suburb and get huge idlis for me for breakfast. Idli came  with delicious coconut chutney and I would relish it. Soon I began to associate south Indian cuisine to Matunga. Many times I would request him to take me and once I did go to have idli sambar to a restaurant in one of those narrow lanes which was famous for its idlis.  The demography of this place was middle class South Indians and I had seen many women with long skirts, short blouses, and a transparent half saree wrapped over hips and chest. It was not as much developed as other parts of Mumbai like south Mumbai or western suburbs.

I have not visited Matunga for many years therefore I was not aware of the vast development that has occurred over the years.

Recently when I went, I was surprised to see big roads and broad foot-paths on the either side of the road filled with people carrying shopping bags. Huge, long shiny glass windows lined the street. Every store was crowded as if there were huge discount. I realized that we needed such kind of shopping areas in Bandra and at Versova too. In Bandra, we have too many street vendors who are always running across the street, jumping over dividers with their merchandise trapped in blankets, whenever they see the BMC van approaching, and they come back as soon as the van disappears. Sometimes the police collects their commission and lets them do their business on the street which results in heavy traffic jam on the linking road, with the traffic so slow that walking is the better option.

In Matunga, there were no street vendors outside these huge stores. Maybe the shopkeepers do not allow them to block the entrance to their shop.

It was pleasant walk with lot of breeze in this lane and suddenly I was distracted by huge life size statues of deities on the walls of the temple behind a huge Pipal tree. I was stunned by its beauty and asked the shop keeper about this beautiful building.

This is “Ashika Samaj Mandir” said the shop keeper.

Asthika Samaj was set up in 1923 as the public worship hall where regular offering to different deities are done by Pandas for a fee. The big Banyan tree outside the temple is believed to having fulfilled the desires of the devotees.

The Samaj also has a cultural auditorium inside the temple, where marriages, Upanayanams and other religious events are conducted by general public. Social functions such as marriages and other entertainment events are also held here.

I took few pictures and then continued with my shopping in the branded sari shop which had huge variety of sarees, suits and other clothing.

Balcony View in Mumbai