Would you like to feast your eyes at Art Galleries this week-end?

Every visitor in Mumbai, who is interested in art will know about Jahangir Art Gallery. Technically in the same compound as the Prince of Wales Museum, though approached from further up MG Rd is Jehangir Art Gallery. It is Mumbai’s best-known venue for contemporary art and is frequently used for art and photographic exhibitions. Here, the visitor can get an idea of modern Indian painting and sculpture.

The Gallery is open for five days: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and has visitors all day long.

But there are many more art galleries scattered around the city which are equally good and a feast of our eyes.

If you are in Mumbai this week end, you can check art galleries around Mumbai city.

Suchitrra Arts: 2642-6479
Freshly squeezed
Debraj Goswami, Jignasa Joshi and others let their creative juices flow.
1 Hill View, Second Floor,
Mon-Sat 11am-7pSm.


Osmosis Gallery: 3091-1534
Group Show Osmosis Gallery
Akbar Padamsee is part of this group show
175 Aram Nagar II, JP Road, Varsova
Wed-Mon 11am-7pm.

Nehru Centre : 2496-4676
Group Show Circular Gallery
Kishir Shikhare, Prabhakar Doud, Rahul Salve and Priya Shikhare show paintings.
Discovery Of India Building, Worli

DD Neroy Gallery : -
Group Show DD Neroy Gallery
Arvind Sutar, Deepak Bharadwaj and others show paintings.
Bombay Mutual Terrace,
Mon-Sat 10.30am-6pm.

Pradarshak : 2646-2681
Vidyarthi Vishesh
This annual student show is the gallery’s effort to showcase young artists.
100 Kalpana Building, Bandra
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Studio Napean : 3263-9722
Group Show Studio Napean
Basukinath Dasgupta, Shivaramachary Y and Kamalnayan Deori show paintings.
Matru Ashish, Shop No 17-18,
mon-sat 10.30 am-8pm.

Veh Art Gallery : 2438-0566
Rim-Zim
The gallery’s annual monsoon show has 60 paintings selected from 500 entries.
B1, Swapna Bhoomi, SK Bole Road
mon-sat 10am-7.30pm

Gallery Art & Soul : 2496-5798
Surviwall
Roul Hemanta is inspired by graffiti
1 Madhuli, Dr Annie Besant Road
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Point of View : 2218-6151
Engulfed Beneath the Horizon
An exhibition of paintings by young artists. The list includes Kumar, Nilesh Prajapati, and Arunabha Mondal.
63/65 Wodehouse Road
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.

Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery : 2202-3626
Group Show Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery
Monsoon-inspired art by many artists, including Revati Dalvi and Nishant Dangre.
Ground Floor, Bajaj Bhawan,
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.

Legacy Art Gallery : 2281-7581
Monsoon Show
The gallery wets its feet with the mandatory show inspired by the rainy season. Artists include Shyamal Mukherjee and Somnath Maity and others.
112 Maker Chambers
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

The Guild : 2287-5839
Myths of Unspoken Biospheres
Jeetander Ojha and Sudeesh K show paintings. The show has been conceived by Shubhalakshmi Shukhla.
28 B Pipewala Building,
sat 10am-6.30pm.

Gallery Beyond : 2283-7345
Point and Line and Plane IV
Abstract works by Santana Gohain and others.
130/132, Great Western Building
mon-sat 11am-7pm

Warehouse at 3rd Pasta : 2202-3056
Res Derelictae II
Belgian artist Peter Buggenhout shows sculptures made of dust, thermocol and other bits of junk. Not meant for those who are compulsive about clean surfaces. The show has been curated by Sofie Van Loo.
6/7 Third Pasta Lane,
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Galerie Mirchandani + Steinrue : 2202-3030
Solo Show Matthias Mansen’s
Matthias Mansen’s woodcuts are on display. If you want to see (or buy) something from the gallery collection, make an appointment.
2 Sunny House,16/18 Mereweather
mon-fri 10am-6.30pm, sat 11am-4pm

Museum Gallery : 2284-4484
Solo Show NB Hingad
NB Hingad shows paintings.
Kala Ghoda, K. Dubhash Marg
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Art Walk : 5632-5757
Solo Show Papiya Ghosh
Papiya Ghosh exhibits in this little gallery between the Oberoi and the Trident.
1st Floor, Oberoi Arcade,
daily 10am-9pm.

Bilmat Zeramicz : 2265-2091
Solo Show Sandeep Manchekar
Sandeep Manchekar shows stoneware, earthenware and other handmade objects.
73, Nagindas Master Road,
mon-fri 9.30am-1pm, 2-6pm. sat 9.30am-1pm.

Sakshi Gallery : 2491-0728
Stillness ... Moves (US)
Wooden sculptures carved with an axe by Ravi Shah.
39A/1 Sri Ram Mills Compound,
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Bodhi Art Gallery : 6610-0124
The Bodhi Art Award Show
Bosudhara Mukherjee, Debanan Sasmal, Nazima Rangwala are among the 11 finalists for the Bodhi Art Award. Shreyas Karle has won the first prize.
28 K Dubash Marg, near Rhythm house
mon-sat 11am-7pm.

Pundole Art Gallery : 2284-1837
The Pregnant Room
A show of sculptural installations by Parag Tandel.
369, D.N. Road,
mon-sat 10am-6pm.

Piramal Art Gallery : 2283-3838
Sun
Subhashis Das lets you feel some heat
Piramal Gallery, NCPA,
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.

Source; http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/

ps: For details on location of art Galleries view the list on my page element on the right side…under the heading..´have u visited.....

Sidi URS..African Indian Community in Mumbai

For some in Mumbai, the last weekend of July will be a time to party. There will be dancing in the streets, mutton biryani and, if the celebrations of the preceding years are anything to go by, frenzied, trance-like revelry that will start at 11pm and won’t stop until dawn. The Sidis’ drumming patterns and dances that accompany the music resemble African forms

It’s an exclusive affair; you can watch but not participate. The annual Sidi Urs is open only to Sidis, a tiny community whose ancestors came to India as traders, slaves and mercenaries from across Africa starting from at least the thirteenth century. Now clustered in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, roughly 500 of them reside in Mumbai.

The Gori Pir dargah in Sidi Mohalla is an unimposing shrine in the Muslim suburb of Dongri. But this decrepit Sufi shrine, with its curious antique musical instruments, is a very special place: it is where the Sidis, the city’s little-known community of African-Indians, worship.

Despite the hardships they face, the Sidis are a proud, adaptable people who have a huge capacity for happiness

Source; http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/

Poem on Mumbai

I came across this beautiful poem on Mumbai at my social network at facebook. It is written by Leena Elizabeth and she writes….

MUMBAI

With myriad, multi hued faces
Mumbai.
City of a thousand epithets,
City of dreams
City that never sleeps……..
City of contrasts
Glittering, glitzy, glamorous
Slum infested, sweltering, sordid
Large hearted, balmy, gregarious
A tumultuous city…
Slithering snakelike along
the Arabian Sea.
Her spirit shining
Like the light of a million stars

Where naked, grubby children
with leaky noses,
play in the filth and gravel,
at the side of traffic signals,
as mothers rock their babies in
plastic cradles, on pavements.
Across
Their glowing, pampered kindred
look out from swank cars,
playing with their Nintendos.
Dressed in branded clothes,
which dad bought in yesterday,
From his business trip to Europe

Like a temptress of many moods
At day she is an angel, free and light.
She lets you be…. She lets you live…

This Mumbai,

Welcoming with open arms

thousands who flock into the city every day.

*Thank you Leena for sharing your poem*

Using public transport in Mumbai

Did you know that if you plan to come back by bus on the same day, you can buy a return ticket for just Rs20?

The other day, I was making a trip to Navi Mumbai, and my co-passenger informed me about this new facility. I am not a regular traveller and hardly ever use a pubic transport; therefore this was news to me. This is a good move and it will bring relief to bus conductors, who have tough time squeezing through the crowded buses delivering tickets to the passengers.

She also informed me about the card that has been jointly launched by railway authorities and Kaizen Automation Private Limited.

Christened as the "GO Mumbai Card" an electronic card was introduced to Mumbai consumers, in April, that integrated all modes of public transport and allowed a "cashless" travel for a commuter. It was supposed to revolutionise the ticketing system on Mumbai’s suburban railway network.

How many commuters know about this card, I am not sure, but there is still a long queue at the ticket office. Many people are hesitating to acquire this card because that the balance in the ‘Go Mumbai’ smart card reduces by Rs5 every month irrespective whether one uses it or not. Also, if the card is used on a BEST bus Rs5 will be deducted and again if the card is used on railways another Rs5 per month is deducted.”

And then there are few stations on the harbour line that still don’t have validating machines.

Commuters complain that there are many lacunas in the system but they have lots of patience and have learnt to live comfortably here, in Mumbai, against all odds. If the railway administration feels that people will get acquainted with the new technology over a period of time, then they will…….

Umage source: photobucket

Mumbai plans to have a walking plaza at Zaveri Bazaar

Most of the busy roads in Mumbai have pedestrians and traffic struggling for space. In Mumbai, traffic does not wait for pedestrians to cross the road, nor the pedestrian wait for light to change to green and so we see pedestrians and traffic in busy streets moving at the same pace.

During Kala Ghoda festival, which is held every year in the month of February, the streets around Jahangir Art Gallery are converted into Pedestrian plaza and it is very convenient for shoppers to shop without having to worry for cars bumping your rear.

Mumbai is to have its permanent pedestrian plaza at Zaveri bazaar, which is Asia’s biggest market. It is supposed to be the first pedestrian plaza, on the lines of those in Oxford, in the city’s busiest business area. The walkway is touted to be a space where people can walk freely and which would help both - the business community and shoppers.

There is a plan to make pedestrian plaza with benches and flowerpots all across the walkway to make it welcoming. Also they will start a toy-train for people who have some disability and need assistance.

However, there some parking problems that needs to be ironed out. Without space for parking, the association cannot get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the traffic department to make it a no-vehicle zone.

Photo from Friendlyghost

What are you doing this weekend in Mumbai

Check out….
Friday 18th July 2008
Around Town

Japanese photo exhibition
See images from half a century ago from the land of the rising sun. Free entry.
Department of German, Ranade Bhavan, Mumbai University, Kalina. Contact the Japanese Consulate in Mumbai (2493-4610).

Music
9am-5.30pm Gandhi’s Cookbook
The band from Dubai play a mix of ska, reggae and punk. Entry fee Rs 200.
Not Just Jazz By the Bay, Soona Mahal, near The Ambassador Hotel, 143 Marine Drive (2285-1876)
10pm

Saturday 19th July 2008
Music
Dhanashree Pandit Rai
Watch a performance by one of the city's most accomplished thumri singers. Free entry.
PL Deshpande Mini Theatre, Lokmanya Sewa Sangha, MG Road, Vile Parle (E).
4.30pm

Film
Ardha SatyaPrabhat Chitra Mandal and the Rudraa DVD label pay tribute to Vijay Tendulkar with a screening.
Sathe College, Dixit Road, Vile Parle (E) (2613-0608).
11.30am


Sunday 20th July 2008
Theatre
Noises Off
Watch a play from behind the stage without leaving your seat.
Sophia Bhabha Hall, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy, Cumbala Hill.
For tickets call (2353-8550)
7.30pm

Film
The Dark Knight
Gotham city burns again in Christopher Nolan's sequel to Batman Begins. This time around, Batman (Christian Bale) has to deal with the psychotic Joker (Heath Ledger).
Playing at Fame (Malad), PVR Cinemas (Juhu & Mulund) and Metro Adlabs.

source: Time out,Mumbai

Drivers take a vow to not honk unnecessarily.

Overseas, you can hear the honking of the car only when people are happy, especially during wedding processions or on New Year’s Eve.

But in Mumbai, you can hear the honking for unnecessary reason. They will horn if the traffic is slow, they will horn if they see an animal crossing the road (even though the animal is not in the least bothered and will continue its jay walking) they will even horn at red signals. There is too much noise pollution which adds to the stress.

To curb this noise pollution and preserve the environment, Mumbai Traffic Police has initiated No Honking Movement.

On Wednesday, 9th July, 100 private taxi drivers took an oath to lower the decibel in Mumbai by resolving not to honk unnecessarily. Joint commissioner of Traffic police, Sanjay Barve, presided over the ceremony and pleaded to the volunteering drivers to abandon their habitual honking as the act adversely affected driver’s as well as bystanders’ health.

I grew up in Bombay but now I live in Mumbai

….but our city’s name pops up in unexpected places and situations across globe……..











Source;epaper.hindusthantimes.com

You will see ‘Food streets’ at Girgaum and Juhu Chowpatty very soon!

Mumbai will soon get two ‘Food streets’ at Girgaum and Juhu Chowpatty, where food will be prepared and sold in a clean environment. The ministry will organise training programmes for the vendors to maintain high level of hygiene, quality, and hospitality in every food street. Apart from the outlets for Indian traditional dishes, the food street will certainly offer foreign dishes too. Food streets will be world-class in all aspects. It will be on the lines of those in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Shanghai — offering traditional cuisine to both domestic and overseas visitors in a clean and agreeable environment.

"Every major city will have food streets. Total hygiene will be maintained. It will not only boost tourism, but also generate jobs for the local population," says Minister of Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai.

The ministry proposes to invest Rs.50 million in developing every food street all over India, and expects similar participation from the private players, local bodies and the state governments.

Source: Hindustan Times

A visit to ISKON at Juhu

Most of my guests come to Mumbai for shopping and we are mostly visiting malls but when we are too tired of shopping then next best thing to do is lunching or sight seeing…..it all depends on my guests.....



This week-end my guests wanted to visit ISKON at Juhu. Better known as Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mandir. It is a place of worship, meditation and spiritual knowledge, where people come from all walks of life to seek solace here

We went there at 5 30 in the evening. It was very peaceful and quiet although there were many devotees at that time of the day. After removing our shoes outside the Mandir we walked in barefoot inside the temple for the darshan of the deities. A small group of people were singing spiritual hymns and were seated in the centre of the hall. We took a round inside the temple and then followed the exit arrow which leads to shopping arcade behind the temple where handicraft items, souvenirs and food were on sale.

A tasty hot khichdi was served as Prasad from steel buckets in a leaf bowl to every devotee at the exit.

At ISKON the Vedic scriptures state that spiritual life begins when one inquires into the nature of the absolute truth, the Supreme Godhead. Gaudiya Vaisnavas are monotheists and know the personality of Godhead as Krishna

We didn’t stay long but there were many people who were waiting to attend the aarti which are performed at specific timings.On enquiring, we were told that temple had fixed timing for aarti which were as follows:

4:30 am Mangala Arati

7:15 Sringar Arati and Guru Puja

12:30 Rajbhog Arati

4:30 Arati

7:00 Sandhya Arati

8:30 Shayan Arati

9:00pm temple closes



My friends were very happy and contented with this visit to ISKON and announced that it was the evening well spent

And it rained and rained and rained in Mumbai

so much so that people was scared once again, they were reminded of 26th July..that dreadful day...when nature played a cruel trick on Mumbaites

This was the pics taken on 1st July taken by those people who braved the rains and reported to work.....



passing through the heavy floods, which are the result of clogged drainage...



On rainy day there should be a holiday declared so that people can stay at home and not worry about the leave or absense from work....


Thank you Anita Bhutani for sharing your pictures.....

Mumbaikars are advised to 'Live with it’

"Live with it"? huh? Yes, we do hear it right...we have to live with it whenever it rains heavily and the city gets clogged, people get stranded, and city comes to a standstill......

(click on the picture to enlarge......)


But then what else can we do? Huh? When it rains in Mumbai, nobody is willing to take the responsibility….whom should we blame? Will the guilty please stand up?

BMC who has spend 90 crores on pre-monsoon works or the new constructions that are mushrooming in the city everywhere blocking all the pipes? duh?