December 2019 by Bandra Buzz newspaper

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

Bandra couple grow over 25 different types of vegetables & fruits on their terrace garden

ou can grow any kind of vegetable, fruit or flowering plant in your home with six to seven hours of sunlight every day and adequate supply of water,” said Manoj and Smitha Varghese, the couple who own Growbites plant centre at Chimbai. Both Smitha and Manoj have started a terrace garden in their home since last five year where they grow over 25 different types of plants like chikoo, mango, fig, banana, grapes, dragon fruit, turmeric, curry leaves, pomegranate, pineapple, papaya and more. In a suburban place like Bandra, the Varghese couple says, “We grow our vegetables and fruits.” Smitha adds, “When we grow our vegetables, we know exactly how they are grown and what content we feed them to grow. We do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides so our plants are pure. We can Smitha & Manoj have started a terrace garden in their home since last 5 year where they grow over 25 different types of plants just pluck and eat without any harm and the “In any household, all the members of the Tips for growing your plants taste is natural.” and have a deep passion for growing plants. family try to water the plants even when it is Do not throw away garbage, be creative Manoj reveals, “We started growing plants on Anyone can grow plants provided you not necessary. Some plants can survive with and use it for your plants. Manoj says, “We our terrace just for our self-happiness. These know how to maintain & take good care minimum water while some require a large used our broken washing machine as a huge plants make us feel happy when we go every Manoj breaks several myths prevalent supply. You got to maintain the perfect level bucket container for growing plants. You can morning for a walk in our terrace garden.” among people by explaining, “Plants do not of water supply to avoid any damage.” use paint boxes, used water tanks and wa- Smitha who manages the garden says, “We necessarily need soil. They just need the nuter buckets for planting. You can mix 5ml of can pluck any fruit or flower and enjoy its trients present in the soil & support, to hold Challenges faced in terrace planting Neem oil and 2ml of liquid soap into 1 litre natural beauty. Besides, these plants help to roots. We grow some plants in water & pro- Constructing and maintaining a full water- of normal water and spray it on plants once purify the air and give out so much oxygen vide the nutrients. However, 6 hours of sun- proof terrace is a challenge but a prerequi- a week. It is the best natural medicine and which is beneficial for our health.” light & the required supply of water is essen- site for terrace planting. Manoj says, “In a city your plants will not get any disease.” tial. Also, plants do not lead to mosquitoes, it like Mumbai, you need to build a waterproof “Dry eggshells can be powdered in a Different forms of Terrace Planting is only when you allow stagnant water to get terrace to prevent any kind of leakages. mixer and used as a calcium supplement for Aquaponics and Hydroponics Spending time with plants is important be- plants. Similarly, you can add vegetable skin, The Varghese couple has started two differcollected that mosquitoes start breeding.” cause you need to check whether every leaf fruit skin, used tea bags as natural compost ent forms of planting called Aquaponics & is healthy, every plant is getting adequate for the healthy growth of your plants.” Do not water your plants too much Hydroponics. Manoj explains, “In Aquapon“Plants are like children, you should not sunlight and all roots are growing strong. Too ics, we keep fish & the waste of the fish helps pamper them too much,” opines Manoj re- much of wind is not good for certain plants How did it begin? What are the benefits? to grow plants. vealing that most of the plants die due to so you need to have wind blinds if they are “It all began with an accident,” chuckle the Ronald Rodrigues overwatering or under-watering. He says, facing the seaside.” Varghese couple who are both plant lovers Continued on Page 5 >>

NEWS

Christmas Reflections Bandra is buzzing with the Christmas spirit. ents to balance it out with at least two hours When you think of Christmas the pictures of intensive workouts at the gym!” that pan across your mind are about lovely decorations, gastronomic food spreads, deAs the owner of licious sweets and cakes. However, despite a pet shop called these celebrations, it is important to rePosh Pets, Dhaval member that it is Christ who is at the centre Bhatt connects of all our celebrations. with Christmas because Christ was Christ is indeed the born in a stable & cherry on the cake. was surrounded by Joyce Fernandes animals. Dhaval says, “It shows that Christ from Rejoyce Cakes, came for the whole of mankind. Christmas says, “Without also means to spend more time with family, Christ our celebra- showing gratitude & loving, sharing & maktions are meaning- ing people happy & remembering the birth less. So let us all of the Savior, Jesus Christ.” give Christ & His message of love its due respect & importance in our lives. We have During this winter season, lecturer Saira to be living examples of our faith.” Tumbi, offers a warm lesson. She says, “It’s the month of December, it’s winter & Life is a journey and the festival of merriment, carols & sweets Christmas is a time is here. Christmas is here. Festivals are the when sweet melo- time when we have a reason to meet, an opdious carols fill the portunity to catch up with family & friends. air. Sharon Menez- A feeling of togetherness. But as we grow es, Company Head, with time the feeling of togetherness is of travel company now felt only through a piece of technology. Safarnaama, says Christmas is a festival of peace & gratitude. “As I think about what Christmas means to But today we experience togetherness only me, the words of a popular Christmas song on WhatsApp or even more heart wrenchcome to mind, and the lyrics are so apt even ing, when the nation needs to unite during today check it out... peace walks asking for justice or when This Christmas I wish... fighting for our very own individual identity. ‘No more lives are torn apart Times are changing! However, let us keep That wars would never start the true meaning of Christmas in mind.” And time would heal all hearts And everyone would have a friend Christmas is about And right would always win love & true love And love would never end’ unites. Adv Joa... and this is what we truly need today! All quim Reis gives our religions are based on the basic ideals of his ruling, “At prespeace, harmony, joy and love and if we can ent, we are going all practice these, we can make this world through testing a better place! Merry Christmas everyone... times. New legisspread peace, joy & love wherever you go.” lation which has divided the country with those supporting as well as those opposing. So, this Christmas Reactions are strong leading to violence & let us learn to take defiance. At times we tend to ask where is care of our body & God? Christmas is the time when we can soul. Arish Ghas- recharge our relationship with baby Jesus wala, Fitness train- to rediscover the real meaning of love forer & bodybuilder giveness. Spirit of reaching out to the other. shares, “Christmas Be ambassadors of peace in its true sense. is by far one of my This will make us true witnesses of Jesus & most favourite festive celebrations of the make Christmas a feast of celebration in its year! Anyone who lives in Bandra or visits true sense.” the place during the festive time, knows well, that the place holds a completely dif- So this Christmas let us take a cue from ferent & authentic charm to it with one these friends from Bandra, and usher in the of the major attractions being the Mount true spirit of Christmas. Here’s wishing all Mary Church, off Bandstand! With the fes- of you love, joy, peace, health, wealth & haptive season, comes a lot of food and frolic, piness. Hope these messages ring a ChristChristmas sweets being one of my absolute mas bell in your lives. favourites! Being a fitness professional however, I like to & heavily recommend my cliMonarose Sheila Pereira

BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

St. Stephen’s chowk & steps commemorating 175 years

Straight after the 9 am Eucharist on 22nd December, St. Stephen’s congregation gathered opp. their Church for the inauguration of the new St. Stephen’s chowk. Belonging to the Church of North India denomination, the event is part of their 175th year celebrations, which began in November with a concert of contemporary Christian music. The new chowk is located on Mount Mary Road, opp. the Church. It’s part of a newly regenerated public space which has been named St. Stephen’s steps. The steps used to be a neglected, narrow staircase connecting the lower & upper parts of Mount Mary. Their new avatar is the vision of Alan Abraham of Abraham John Architects & Bombay Greenway. Alan’s parents are members of the Church and as a kid, he attended Sunday school here along with his movie star brother John Abraham. The proj-

ect was initiated by Asif Zakaria, the Municipal Councillor, MCGM. Present at the occasion along with the congregation was Retired Bishop of Mumbai Dr S. B. Joshua (Church of North India), Rev. Thomas Jacob the Presbyter in charge, Alan Abraham, Abraham John, Asif Zakaria & others. Bishop Joshua & Rev. Jacob in their messages thanked everyone involved. 3 years after the proposal was put, St. Stephen’s steps too were recently inaugurated. To mark the occasion ‘Festival @ The Steps’ has been organised. The festival is spread over 5 weekends in December ‘19 & January ‘20. It is facilitated by local entrepreneurs to provide workshops, art & craft, music, dance, etc. The steps offer a great, well maintained open space for residents to organise cultural and recreational activities. Nikhil Katyal

BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

INFOCUS

175th Anniversary: St. Stephen’s Church focuses on Education, Health & Humanitarian work

Focusing on Education and Health for all, St Stephen’s Church, part of the Church of North India (CNI), is celebrating its 175th anniversary next year. Established in 1845 on the slope of the Mount Mary Hill to cater to the nearby English families during colonial India, St Stephen’s Church has gone beyond barriers to serving the community at large over these 175 years. The church, under the umbrella of Queenie Captain Community Centre Society (QCCCS), runs a Day Care Centre and Study Centre for underprivileged children and teenagers who come from families with low financial incomes. Reverend Thomas Jacob of St Stephen’s Church, said, “We have about 50 children between the age group of two and a half to five years in our Day Care Centre. Our teachers and volunteers take care of these children, teach them basic lessons and provide opportunities to play. We provide a healthy breakfast, lunch, and milk in the evening to these children.” The Day Care Centre functions from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. While the Study Centre is meant for students from Class 1 till Class 10 where teachers and volunteers help them with their studies. Rev. Jacob said, “These students are from nearby slum settlements and do not have a proper environment to study. Some of them go to municipal schools or state schools but do not have a place to study. Our volunteers and teachers help them to

Jacob added, “Although we are a Protestant Church with an Anglican background, we are crossing the borders to serve humanity and help in humanitarian work. As part of our commitment to ecumenism, we have priests and nuns from Catholic churches who come and preach.” On the quartoseptcentennial celebration, Rev. Jacob said, “We thank God for all these years and we look forward to the coming years to cross more borders and build relations to facilitate the transformation of lives and society.” As part of the ‘Festival at the Steps,’ the St.Stephen’s Chowk, opposite the church, was inaugurated last Sunday.Rev. Jacob, said, “We had a concert last month and we will have a thanksgiving service in January.” Reverend Thomas Jacob - Presbyter-in-charge of St Stephen’s Church which is located on Mount Mary Road in Bandra West study and improve their interpersonal and communication skills.” The Study Centre has around 50 students and functions from Monday to Saturday from 4 pm to 7 pm. “We do not ask the religion of any child while admitting them in our centres. The admission form does not have a religion section. We admit students based on their financial and family background as we try to help those who are most deserving.” “Till date, none of our children have failed in Class 10. Some of our students are

pursuing their MBA, Ophthalmology and other courses. One of our students wanted to pursue MBA and saved over Rs 75,000 for his fees by dropping newspapers while he was in school. We helped him by paying the rest of the fees because we wanted to encourage his dedication and play a small role in his journey.” Apart from these centres, the church has various outreach programmes through the initiatives of Sunday School, Youth Fellowship and Women’s Fellowship groups. Rev.

HISTORY - Established in 1845 - Building construction was completed & opened for worship on December 26, 1853 - QCCCS started in the early 1970s with members providing milk to children & pregnant women. - Dental and medical health check-ups are regularly organised for the children of the Day Care Centre and Study Centre. - Church of North India founded in 1970 - Study Centre set up in 2002 Ronald Rodrigues Image Credit: Josh Photography

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Where to find Bandra Buzz in print HILL ROAD · Near Bandra station rickshaw stand · Shankar Sidh (near Lucky Restaurant) · The Tata Parsi Agiary · P.S. Chavan (outside Studio Perfecta) · St. Peter’s Church · Sheshmani Yadav (near Wanton House) · St. Andrew’s Church · Ajit B Shelar (outside ICICI Bank) · Good Luck Café MT MARY ROAD · Basilica Of Our Lady of The Mount KADESHWARI MANDIR MARG · St. Francis of Assisi Church KRISHNA CHANDRA MARG · R K Yadav (outside IES College) CHAPEL ROAD · Mt Carmel Church · Shiva (outside Mt Carmels Church gate) · Rajendra Yadav (near Starbucks) · Rejoyce (The Cake Gallery) ST. JOHN BAPTIST ROAD · Sandeep bookstall (near Mt Mary steps) BAZAAR ROAD · Kalidas Vishram General Stores · Rohit Newspaper (near Kalidas Stores) TURNER ROAD · B.M. Khambe (near D’Decor showroom) · R.K. Yadav (opp. Cafe Coffee Day) · The Bandra Gymkhana · Mcubed Library CHIMBAI ROAD · S.R.N/L.R. Yadav (opp. Solanki Chemist) DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD · Uday R Pai (opp. Bombay Barbeque) · Suresh More (near St. Elias High School) NARGIS DUTT ROAD · St. Anne’s Church · Temperance · Sundaram General Stores WATERFIELD ROAD · Indian Express (opp. Post Ofﬁce) ST THERESA ROAD · St. Theresa’s Church · Rajkumar Yadav (opp. St. Theresa) · Patwardhan Udyan (opp. St. Theresa) 2OTH ROAD (KHAR) · St Vincent De Paul Church 13TH ROAD (KHAR) · Khar Gymkhana S.V. ROAD · Shubangi Torasker (opp. Bandra Talao) Interested in distributing Bandra Buzz, please call 99202 99787

BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

9 Years of Community Connect Dear Reader, Way back in December 2010, was when we had launched your favourite neighbourhood newspaper – Bandra Buzz; with a lot of enthusiasm and hope for community connect. Initially, hundreds - and then thousands of Bandraites got connected via this local media to know more about what was happening around them. This month, we celebrate 9 years of creating community connect. Most of us immediately come to know what’s happening in New York, London, Dubai, Singapore or Sydney – but do not know what’s happening on our very own street. This is where Bandra Buzz fits the bill – highlighting local heroes, happening events, news, views, reviews, etc. All this and much more, from a local perspective – which is unique, yet ‘happening’. With our growing readership and your solid sup-

port, we have evolved to new heights, to be the local voice and the perfect platform to promote budding entrepreneurs. In this process, people from Bandra, Khar & Santa Cruz have reportedly interconnected personally & professionally – more in the last 9 years, than in the recent past. As you read this 9th Anniversary issue, please send us your honest feedback to bandrabuzz@gmail.com. This is vital, to fill in the gaps, for positive change. With our rapidly growing social media outreach on several prime platforms, our followers find us almost anywhere. At a global level, ex-Bandraites crave to read Bandra Buzz; just to know what’s happening ‘back home’. Hence, combined with our e-paper version, our readers have multiplied exponentially. Meanwhile, on behalf of the entire Bandra Buzz team, who work tirelessly to

keep you updated regularly; I wish you a blessed Christmas 2019 and a Prosperous New Year 2020 – with health, wealth & happiness for yourself, family & friends.

Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this paper, are of the authors - and do not reﬂect the opinion of the publishers and editors, unless otherwise stated. Readers should act on the information provided, only after consulting with their own independent advisors.

Celebrating Bandra Buzz’s 9th Anniversary & Christmas Bandra Buzz has managed to stumble into its 9th Anniversary of publication. Quite a remarkable achievement, considering how many people read newspapers these days with a mobile phone in hand 24x7 that gives you all the news of which 99% is fake. Read Bandra Buzz and it will keep you informed about what’s happening around us, whether its sports, social activities or even the turbulent political & economic situation that keeps us aware & busy with gossip. Do you know onions are selling at Rs. 160/- per kilo on Bazaar Road while our netas are high on NRC? Congratulations to Bandra Buzz, its publisher, editorial staff and all its honourable reporters who make Bandra Buzz, a perfect community newspaper, spinning out information every month throughout the year on what is happening in & around Bandra and neighbouring suburbs. BB’s circulation has improved widely, reaching out to homes, parishes, clubs, educational institutes and many who wait eagerly at the vendor’s shop for a copy of the latest on what’s happening in Bandra? Bandra is the place where things happen because of its heritage, rich history & cosmopolitan setup. We in Bandra are the only ones in Mumbai who enjoy this bonhomie of living happily in our own town. There is no other place in Bombay that has a Community newspaper like Bandra Buzz.

December is also the month when Christians all throughout the world celebrate the Birth of Christ. It is the month of festivities, preparing sweets at home, buying new clothes & gifts, decorating Christmas tree, lighting it with colourful bulbs & putting up the Star illuminating in the night sky.

On Christmas Day we celebrate with Holy Mass, followed by a feast for family & friends. This joyous occasion comes once a year to remind us that we are all human to love & cherish our time on this wonderful planet that is God’s gift to us. Amar Singh

BandraBuzz CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECT

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

NEWS

9 Tips for staying Healthy over the Christmas Holidays Christmas should not be an excuse to let go of ourselves, health-wise. It’s a season of love, affection, warmth and sharing. But we tend to eat more of the wrong things, drink more alcohol than usual and let our fitness schedules be on standby mode till the New Year’s Resolution kicks in. Christmas break should be a relaxing time for recharging our batteries – not a frenzy of poor health choices and bad habits. A little bit of planning and self-control with a dash of determination will help us to follow through on the promises we have made. Here are nine tips for enjoying a healthier festive season this year:

4. Eat responsibly When it comes to eating over Christmas, common sense will go a long way: eat more turkey, salad, veggies and fruit and less ham, cake, candies and chips. Ditch soft drinks entirely, keep your portion sizes under control and take it easy on the alcohol. Do mindful eating, watch your portion sizes, look for smaller plates while eating.

5. Connect with your folks This season should be a good reason to reach out to old friends and pals whom you haven’t seen/met/spoke in a long time. Connect with them and spend good quality time in personal healing with any issues 1. Regular simple exercises that need your attention. This is the time of The trick to keeping up with fitness over the the year to be with family and friends. holidays is to do it at home. Buy yourself an exercise mat, gliding discs & some resis- 6. Disconnect from the virtual world tance bands & create your workout. You can Actively reduce your screentime from the use any of the free apps to suit your needs. smartphones/internet/social media or You should set aside at least 20 minutes other forms of digital media. Stay connecta day for some kind of fitness ed with real faces and people and training – it doesn’t matter make solid connections. You if it’s a brisk walk, yoga, can capture all the beaua jog, pilates or rabid tiful pictures and selfies, dancing to heavy metal just don’t be in a hurry music, as long as it gets to load them up inyour heart rate up & stantly and waiting for moves those muscles. likes/dislikes. Enjoy the moment and social 2. Less alcohol and media can wait. more water If there are Christmas par7. Help the needy ties in your holiday schedule, Many people in Mumbai are not make sure you drink plenty of water well resourced to enjoy the festive seaduring those nights out. This helps your sons & many of us are blessed with abunkidneys detoxify your blood more effec- dance. Try to share or donate some of yours tively and keeps dehydration at bay. Eating among those who are in need today. It could a big starchy meal before you drink can be food, clothes, sweets, flowers, gifts or help slow the rate of alcohol absorption in whatever you may seem suitable. Please go your body, and continuing to snack healthy out, open your hearts & let the whole world during the evening can reduce the intensity smile. of your hangover the next day. Drink alcohol slowly – the liver needs 8. Drive responsibly time to process alcohol & can only handle Decide beforehand, if you are going to drive so much at a time & space it with anoth- or not after the party/celebration and drink er one with iced water with lemon – your responsibly. Do not hesitate to call for drivhead will thank you in the morning. Know ers/Ola/Uber/Taxi and leave your car your limits with alcohol & stick to them. there. It’s better to wake up in your bed in the morning rather than inside the jailhouse 3. Sleep...Sleep...Sleep... with your posters all over Bandra Buzz. Do not compromise on sleep during the season of festivities. Good health requires 9. Seek speedy hospital care consistent, high-quality sleep, but this can Anyone who needs urgent medical attensometimes be a challenge because of the tion due to alcohol overdose/drugs intoxstresses that Christmas-time brings more ication/food poisoning/tummy upset, deintense shopping than at any other time of hydration or any heart ailments that have year, exposure to relatives you may not get cropped up urgently should reach the hosalong with, squabbling children with too pital at the earliest. Do not waste time as the much time on their hands. A night of good right treatment at the right time is crucial. night sleep is the best you can give your body to recover from all these stressors. Dr Biswanath Gouda

Dilip Kumar honoured by World Book of Records on 97th Birthday On the occasion of 97th birthday of Padma Vibhushan Dilip Kumar Jee (a Legendary Thespian) of India was felicitated by World Book of Records, London with WBR Golden Era of Bollywood honour for being a legendary actor & his matchless contribution to Indian Cinema & promoting social causes. Although the Bollywood icon could not collect the award, the Certificate of Honour was presented to his family members including his brother Mr Aslam Khan, his sisters Mrs Saeeda Khan, Mrs Farida Khan and Mrs Saira Banu (Wife of Shri Dilip Kumar) by Shri Santosh Shukla, Supreme Court, Advocate (President, World Book of Records), Mr Usman Khan (Adjudicator, World Book of Records, Mumbai) along with other prominent guests. Records, Mumbai) along with other prominent guests.

Dilip Kumar was felicitated earlier this December with the World Book of Records Golden Era of Bollywood honour

Bandra couple grow over 25 different types of vegetables and fruits on their terrace garden Continued from Page 1 In this system soil or any chemical fertilizers cannot be used. The fish waste is ammonia which gets converted into nitrite & then nitrate by two types of bacteria that develops naturally on grow bed which is the basic food for the plants. Water from the fish tank is continuously pumped into the grow bed with a small pump & clean water is returned back to the fish tank. While in Hydroponics, we do not use fish or soil, but we grow plants in water. We add nutrients to the water & the roots grow in the water. In this way, we avoid using soil & pesticides.”

Growbites Nursery Garden centre Apart from terrace planting, Smitha runs a full-time nursery where they sell different kinds of plants of a wide variety. Smitha says, “We sell all kinds of plants from succulents to orchid to fruit-bearing. We also sell all types of pots & some natural pesticides/ fertilizers. We take orders from clients & can customise accordingly. We love to talk to our customers. We have a lot of demand for plants used for air purification & beautification. The culture of gifting flowers is now shifting towards gifting plants as everybody is environmentally sensitive & eco-friendly.” Ronald Rodrigues

Bandra Buzz on your 9th Anniversary

Best Wishes from Rtn. M.P.Singh Mob.: 9833566838 | e-mail: mpsbachher@yahoo.com

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

The Old New Talkies I must be getting old, really old, else how do you explain the fact that every time I sit down to type an article, the articles reek of nostalgia and of how we used to live it up, in days gone by? I would certainly forgive you if you mistook me for the King of Good Times himself; only in my case, the maal is missing yaar. I now live in Khar. One Sunday evening, I stopped by to visit Mum at Bandra. While returning, I passed by a swanky new mall-cum-multiplex named Globus. It had the customary shiny-panelled float-glass facade, dazzling lights, skimpily clad mannequins in its window displays, neat angular parking for cars & smart uniformed dudes who I have no doubt are all uniformly rude! I watched this spectacle in awe, and then, my mind slowly began to go back in time... Now Globus itself has metamorphosed into Marks & Spencer. Change is rapid, not constant! In our college days, whenever we wanted to bunk classes and go for an English movie, we didn’t have to travel all the way downtown. Bandra was one of the few suburbs that had its very own English cinema hall, the New Talkies. One look at New Talkies and you knew New was a misnomer! Everything was old about it. Nevertheless, the cinema hall was so conveniently located, (all other inconveniences, could be forgiven). At a junction, within walking distance from the Bandra Railway Station and Virendra Colony opposite St. Andrew’s Church, where I lived. The first show at New Talkies was always at 4 p.m. Sometimes there were matinée shows at 11 a.m. Catching a movie at the New Talkies was an adventure in itself. Let me take you on a trip down memory lane. We used to cycle to National College, so we had to cycle back to see a movie. We usually arrived at about 3.30 p.m. Our cycles were kept on the road (cycles were allowed inside only after one booked one’s ticket), as we scrambled to stand in an already burgeoning queue. As the queue grew in size, it got more and more unwieldy, swaying and twisting like an angry serpent. With every passing minute, the decibel levels went higher and higher. The gates would be thrown open only 10 minutes before the show. Till then it was mayhem out there. The omnipresent havaldars didn’t need a second invitation to literally swing into action. They swung their lathis with unholy glee. It was a wonder no bones were broken. In our anxiety to get the coveted tickets, no one ever made any bones about a few knocks. The gates were finally thrown open. Everyone rushed to the ticket counter, as though they had just spotted the Promised Land. It was only one ticket per head. The price, if you discount the knocks and tension, a very affordable 75 paise. Less than a

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rupee! The seats, what seats? We had to park our seats on hard wooden benches, without any backrests. Thank God for all the caning that we got on our backsides in school, our seats were well and truly seasoned! That was not all. These cheap seats were right in the front, very close to the screen. So you had to look at the screen with your head tilted upwards. We may not have aspired to be toppers in class but if you saw us in the cinema hall, it definitely looked like we had heavenly aspirations! This gravity-defying pose not only caused a crick in the neck but also guaranteed a king-sized headache and red eyes. The price we paid, in real terms, always put us in the red. Every movie was preceded by trailers of movies, to be screened in the coming days. The trailers showed the highlights which really whetted our appetites. The Films Division also showed a compulsory news documentary, which was nothing but propaganda for the ruling party. How the audience howled, hooted and jeered! Everyone was least interested in watching the shenanigans of the Aaya Rams and Gaya Rams. What was amazing about the whole New Talkies adventure was that for the princely sum of just one rupee (100 paise), we had a ball. The ticket was 75 paise, the cycle parking charge was 10 paise, the hot batatawada at the interval cost 10 paise & the mandatory macho Panama non-filter cigarette (a must while discussing the movie after the show) cost 05 paise. Real value for money. We were made of different mettle, hence considered it a real steal! Can you get such corresponding delights for even Rs. 100 today? The car behind me honked loud and long, rudely jolting me from my reverie. I still cannot comprehend how our lovely homely New Talkies has metamorphosed into this monstrous multiplex called Globus / Marks & Spencer. Ironically, a theatre that once cut across all classes has been transformed into a classy outlet sorely for the Upper Classes. Extracted from the book: Beyond Bandra by Edwin Fernandes

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Cheer at the good old Bandra bars

Sure, Bandra is abuzz with many new bars & nightspots, particularly at Bandra Reclamation or BKC. Many popular haunts in the past, like Casbah & Irani restaurant opposite on Hill Road, have shut shop. But it’s nice to note that other old faithful have stood the test of time & are doing very well even after so many years. We recollect visiting Yacht restaurant near St Andrew’s Church every year after the midnight mass at Christmas. We would stop there to chill out with a beer with our friends. At that time it served only beer, but now it is a full-fledged bar. It closed down for some time after it got all dark and dinghy. Today, it’s a different story, it is all brightened up with a new look. Perhaps the old-timers don’t go there any longer but it is attracting the new lot, the ones who frequent pubs around town. The cuisine is varied ranging

from North Indian to Konkan, Maharashtrian and Mughlai fare. Then there is Toto’s Garage, one of the first pubs in the city, named after a rock group & understandingly, noted for its rock music played by a DJ hidden behind the frontage of a vehicle. Yes, number plates of cars are on the wall. Started in 1992, Toto’s is noted for its kheema-pau among other eats & its full bar including draught beer. Regulars were hit when the BMC demolished part of its extension but were happy when it bounced back into action. Popular, particularly among the youth, is Janata Lunch Home with its Mangalorean food & a full bar. Divided into two levels, with the AC section upstairs, this is one bar that attracts both sexes. At one time the girls accompanied by their male friends would head upstairs, but now you see them sitting

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down, too, for they find it convenient if they happen to be smokers as smoking is not allowed in the AC area. This is a no-nonsense place that serves drinks by the peg and even by the quarter and nobody thinks twice about sharing table space with someone else. Talking about the quarter system one bar that has stood the test of time is Canara Bar & Restaurant, near the police station on Hill Road. It began years ago as a Mangalorean dining destination that also served beer. Now, it has a full bar and, yes, serves booze by the quarter. When you ask for whisky or any other liquor, they assume you want a quarter and are quite surprised if you ask for a peg. The food is tasty and goes well with whatever you are drinking. Of course, in Bandra, the most popular place is Soul Fry. With its laid-back and

homely vibe, it attracts the chic and slick set, those in formal wear and also those in shorts and slippers. Established over 20 years ago, it is noted for its Goan food, particularly the seafood items like fried bombil. Open for lunch and dinner, it has become the tasty talk-point in the area and even all around town. The kicking karaoke, that started as a Monday night offering, is now even on a Thursday. A nice thing is those shy folks take up the courage to take up the microphone and sing their song. A nicer thing is that so many professional musicians also frequent the place and guests are treated to their talent for free. At one time it was noted for its jazz evenings. Now, there is live music every Sunday afternoon. And it’s truly live, no pendrive music! Marcellus Baptista Image Credit: Nishant Shukla

DECEMBER 2019 | BANDRA BUZZ

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

A glance into the abodes of travellers and backpackers in Bandra

Horn Ok Please in Bazar Road has a social & secure space for backpackers

Hostels are the emerging trends among young travellers all over the world & the Indian youth is no different in embracing hostels. Shifting away from hotels & traditional modes of stay, the youth are attracted towards hostels & shared homes which offer new experiences, friends, food, fun and frolic. Youth hostels have become more prominent & enticing in India with new players in the market like the Zostel & Oyo rooms. Mumbai is home to several chain & boutique youth hostels. Our own Bandra is also a prominent destination for backpackers and hostelers. The three major youth hostels in the locality are Cohostel in Chapel Road, Horn Ok Please in Bazar Road and Namastey Mumbai Backpackers in Pali Mala Road. Cohostel is a 36-bed youth hostel catering to long & short term stays. Trending among foreign & domestic travellers, this hostel offers several engagement events, city tours & heritage activities in Bandra & rest of Mumbai. Cohostel was started in Bandra in 2018 by Puneet Varma & Prashant Nihalani & since then grew to have branch-

es in Goa & Uttar Pradesh. The price per bed often falls in the Rs 800-1000 range & comes with complimentary breakfast. With about 800 visitors every month, events like stand-up comedies & plays sets Cohostel apart from its competitors in town. Horn Ok Please is another hostel with a homely feel & has both Indian & overseas tourists visiting from all over the world. The hostel has been operational for over 2 years & has so far seen people from more than 90 countries. Rishab Maskara, Adina Goerke & Smit Jain founded the hostel to have a social & secure space for backpackers. The hostel strives to uphold youth vibes, love for travel & passion for new experiences. The hostel has 47 dorm beds & 3 private rooms & offers co-living options also for long terms stay. You can grab a bed here per night starting from Rs 749 going up to Rs 999 & be part of the fun-filled engagements events. Why are you waiting? Grab your backpack & kickstart your travel & hostel exploit all over the world!! Jessica Bernard

Cohostel in Chapel Road is a youth hostel catering to long & short stays

BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

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Stop religious discrimination, Come out and protest, appeal students

era Bharat Mahan, Modi aur Shah se savdhaan,” were the slogans raised by over 1,000 citizens who gathered on 18th December at Carter Road, to protest over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Surrounded by the Mumbai Police to maintain a peaceful protest, students, working youth, middle-aged and senior citizens came out on the streets and raised a strong united voice to compel the government to revoke both their decisions in order to maintain India as a secular country. Irrespective of religion, caste, sexual, social and economical definitions, protesters stood with placards stating ‘We want Azaadi (Freedom), ‘Why silent our voices? Why ban the internet? Why ask for documents from those who voted for you?’ Students stood in solidarity with their fellow counterparts to protest over the violence by the Delhi police against students of Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMIU), Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh. Students claimed the government is deliberately targeting the Muslims with CAA. Nithya What is CAA? How does it affect you? Subramanian, a working youth, said, “The The CAA which was passed in the Parlia- CAA allows citizenship to all migrants exment on 11th December 2019, adds religious cept Muslims. It is quite clear that the govt. is criteria to India’s citizenship laws. It grants targeting the Muslim community. If they do citizenship to all migrants except Muslims. not want to encourage migrants then do not It singles out non-Muslims from three coun- grant citizenship to anybody irrespective of tries – Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan. their religion. Law should be fair for all. How The other migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, is India secular when you have different laws Christian, Parsi & Buddhist community will for one community -Muslims? Why make a be granted Indian citizenship in six years law based on religion?” even if they entered India illegally. So far 12 years of residence has been the standard eli- What is NRC? How does it affect you? gibility requirement for naturalisation. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is an Malavika Neurekar, a working youth of official record of those who are legal Indian Bandra, said, “I am not affected by CAA di- citizens. It seeks to detect any illegal immirectly because I am not a Muslim but it is grant, regardless of their caste, creed or rehigh time that the privileged need to stand ligion & detain and eventually deport them. up, step out & support those who are affectThis means if NRC is implemented then ed. Even if we are not affected directly, we every person living in India irrespective of need to voice & support those who are in religion will have to procure documents need. Today it is against Muslims, tomorrow proving they are Indians or their ancestors it can be against any other religion.” were from India.

Protesters denounced the NRC claiming it unconstitutional as it will compel every citizen to procure documents proving citizenship. Ayan Khan, ex-alumni of JMIU, said, “NRC will force all of us to procure documents to prove that we live in India and are ancestors are from India. How and why should we do that? We are the same people who voted for a government and now, the government wants to question our citizenship? We will not allow the government to colour our tricolour flag into a saffron flag.” What happened in Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi? On the eve of December 15, the Delhi police smashed their way into the main library of New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University, firing tear gas shells as scores of terrified students barricaded doors & hid inside bathrooms to protect themselves. Students were protesting against the CAA within the university campus. Jamia’s Vice-Chancellor (VC) Najma Akhtar reportedly said that the

police had entered the campus without permission, injuring around 200. The university has a large number of Muslim students. What is happening around? This triggered protests across different states as students of various universities in different cities of India are protesting over the violence against their fellow counterparts. “Come out & Protest,” appealed students to all the residents of the city. Al-Naseer Zakaria, professor & member of the civic education committee, said, “The government is using force to silence the voices of the youth. All those who are still sitting in your homes should wake up & step out to stand in support.” Poonam Mahadik, a resident of Bandra, said, “Some of us are too busy in our comforts because we think it will not affect us. NRC will compel each & everyone to produce documents so it is high time & we need to come out & protest.” Ronald Rodrigues Image Credit: Raj Lalwani

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

Thank God for Colonisation like Virendra

Anyone who has been to Bandstand (is there anyone who hasn’t?), would have definitely noticed the 2 sprawling sprucely maintained buildings, strategically placed on the junction of Hill Road & BJ Road. Virendra Colony has always draws admiring glances. New comers to Bandra keep asking if Virendra is recently built. What a compliment to this Grand Old Lady on the threshold of her 60th celebrations come January 2019. Virendra Colony has history, pedigree, mystery and miracles aplenty. What is the origin of Virendra Colony? How did a pucce Catholic Housing Society in Bandra in the leeward side of St. Andrew’s Church, come to have a Hindu name? Why has Virendra Colony not gone in for redevelopment as yet? Have most residents migrated? Do the residents fight among themselves? What is the going price of flats at Virendra? Before attempting an answer to these myriad questions, let’s first trace the origin of this fascinating Colony. There was a time in the 1950s when there existed a world without internet, mobiles, TV, iPads, Notebooks & Social Media. So for Catholics especially, the Church was the hub of all activities. Various motley groups would meet in the evenings & walk on the spacious grounds of the Churches. One such group consisted of Ned Seldon, Aloysious Albuquerque, Dennis Colaco, Louis Monteiro and others. These were not the usual “time pass” sort of men but men with vision. They had been eyeing a large plot adjoining a stately Parsee bungalow belonging to Mr. Davar. (Waheeda Rehman the yesteryears Diva now lives in this bungalow). Mr. Davar a prim and proper gentleman who was partial to the Christian Community, readily agreed to sell the plot to St. Andrew’s Church then under the Vicarship of the Rt. Rev. Mon. Henry Remedious. The deal was quickly done, an architect Charles Mascarenhas of Bandra was

appointed and hey presto the St. Andrew’s Cooperative Housing Society took root. The colony consists of 2 buildings of 3 & 4 blocks respectively i.e. ground floor plus 2 floors. Each block has 6 flats, so 42 flats in all. All flats are of 2 bedrooms with a bathroom-cum-toilet and a stand alone toilet. A luxury in 1958 when most houses had toilets outside. Each flat is also built with a backdoor to facilitate hawkers and the ubiquitous maurawalis from Chimbai with their plaintive bai, maura pahhejey? A backdoor is something modern flats do not have. Till the 1970’s when a Galaxy of a building sprung up next door, would you believe, Virendra was the tallest Building on BJ Road! Some years down the line, The St. Andrew’s CHS took on another avatar. In keeping with changing times, the name was changed to the tongue twisting Virendra Sahakari Griha Nirman Samiti Ltd. Virendra incidentally is the Sanskritised version of Andrew! What is unique about Virendra, is the unique spirit of unity among its residents. Whole generations grew up together. They danced, sang, fought, picnicked, organised their legendary Annual Christmas Tree parties (each Block takes turns organising it), & what have you. The family that prays together stays together. So the Virendra family prayed around the Colony Cross, played together on her spacious grounds & badminton court. On this court, chasing the bird & courting took on new meanings. 4 couples have found their soul mates from within the Colony and many more are in the pipeline, I hear! That’s why even today residents can walk into each other’s houses and feel most at home. They don’t need Vodafone to stay connected. One Christmas evening, a confirmed resident bachelor already quite full of the Christmas spirit, knocked on our back door. When my Dad opened the door, the Bachelor Boy shook my Dad’s hand with a

slurry Merry Christmas Sir, I’ll have a whiskey and walked passed my startled Dad to the hall! I told you Virendraites are one big family. They share each other’s joys and sorrows. Nothing is a secret from anyone. Contrast this with the present, where most resident in other buildings do not even know their next door neighbours. Virendra was also a bedrock of talent. Over the years generations who cut their milk teeth in Virendra a real mixed bag, have left a distinct mark in their respective fields be it the Religious, Banking, IT, Airlines, Shipping, Management, Teaching, Fine Arts, Deep Sea Diving, Sports, Education, Literature, Medicine, Social Work, Chartered Accountancy, Drama, Event Management… take your pick, you’ll find a Virendraite out there amongst the best. Would you believe Virendra can even boast of a Missionaries of Charity nun? I was none the wiser although she & I graduated together. Today many Virendraites have migrated to foreign shores. I will not say greener pastures, as you won’t find any pasture greener than what you find in Virendra, especially during the monsoons. Many flats are locked but not for sale! Virendra has a vibrant online site & the Virendra diaspora have never forgotten their roots. They still conduct picnics in places like Toronto & Melbourne. Like homing pigeons they return faithfully every Christmas to let their gelled hair down & relive the magic of their past. One former resident who flew in from Canada one early Christmas morn, paid off the taxi at the gate itself, stood there with his suitcase & to greet those returning from morning mass. He hugged & kissed everyone including the startled sweeper woman reporting to work! Another unique aspect of Virendra is the harmony and endearing trust the residents have in each other. For instance, to maintain uniformity, there is an unwritten writ that the

balconies should not be enclosed or barred. In any other Society the balconies would have been enclosed to create an additional room. In Virendra no one has transgressed this writ. Remarkable. Also remarkable is Virendra’s proclivity to nurture longevity. There’s something in its air. Residents miraculously live to a ripe old age and beyond. Perhaps the miraculous medal of Our Lady embedded in the foundation of each block works miracles even today. At present: Mrs. Kate Lobo is 101; Mrs Remy Fernandes is 95; Joaquim D’Sa, Rose D’Sa, Zenia Athaide are in their 90s; Mr. Francis Braganza, Mr. Alva, Mrs Vilma Ribeiro are all in their late 80s…. and believe me, these sprightly ladies and gents are independent and have an admirable zest for life. Touch wood. In short they are living embodiments of the Virendra spirit: We Render. I consider myself more than fortunate to have lived my growing years in this halcyon home. What a full life we led. We had a variety of trees to feast on. Mango trees, bimbli trees, badam trees, mulberry trees even a tamarind tree which now stands outside the wall on the Hill Road side when the BMC took away part of our estate for road extension. The trees provided us nourishment and we climbed them like monkeys. We held fierce sports contests with our neighbours. Gul-nar, Lourdes Colony, Damian’s, Silverine (the old one), Rajaramwadi etc. We celebrated all the festivals with gusto. Not just Christmas. The noisier and messier the festival, the more the appeal!!! You bet Diwali with its attendant firecrackers and Holi with its colour, were topping the list. Our bonding is terrific. After all these years, the bonds have only grown stronger. May Virendra never go in for re-development. That would spell an end to a timeless way of life that has stood the test of time for over 60 long years. Edwin Fernandes

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CLASSIFIEDS FLATS FOR SALE Last 3 flats available for immediate sale. O.C. received & ready possession only for Catholics. Easy bank loan. Three storey building with 7 flats only. Mountain view flats facing the Church. Two way highway touch. Direct local train service from Bandra to Boisar station. Call Oberoi 9768132932.

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Semi furnished converted 2BHK for immediate sale. (Rs 2.50 crore negotiable) Nectar 3 Apartments, Ground floor, Flat no. G-1, Sherly Rajan Road, Pali hill, opp. Rizvi College, Bandra (W). Call Sandeep 9821207228 or Saritaa 9821207448 HOMEMADE HAIR OILS Love Thy Strands brings to you a range of homemade hair oils that stops hair fall, promotes hair growth, nourishes the scalp fights dandruff, dryness and much more. Also good for babies, kids & men. To order you can WhatsApp at 9819936855 or follow us on Instagram @lovethystrands. Avail offer - one 100ml at Rs. 300/- or two 100mls at Rs. 500/- + delivery charges.

SPANISH CLASSES Hispanic Horizons is an institute for teaching Spanish language. We have weekday & weekend courses suitable for both college students & working professionals. We are an accredited examination center to conduct international Spanish exams like DELE, DIE & specialized Spanish exams for business, tourism & medicine. We have a placement cell as well through which we help our students to get Spanish related jobs. No age limit. Vas Chambers building, 1st floor, Hill road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050 Call: +91-22-26409039 / 80826 47938 www.hispanic-horizons.org

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KICKBOXING CLASSES Amit Lalwani’s Kickboxing, Muaythai and self defence for teenagers & adults at St Peters on Hill Road in Bandra (W). Monday, Thursday & Saturday at 7pm. Call 84540 01235 / 98690 36872.

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LEARN TO EARN Computer courses (MKCL authorised learning centre), admissions open round the year. Basic, MSCIT/Klic, laptop / iPad / printer, LCD repairing courses (repairing done here), tailoring & beautician courses. (stitching of ladies & gents outfits done here). Contact: 26006258 LOST PHYSICAL SHARES & DIVIDENDS Get doorstep personal service for your lost physical shares/dividends. Duplicate procedure & FIR & notary all inhouse. We also offer services in insurance of cars/buildings/mediclaim and other financial consulting services. B/34 Elco Arcade, Bandra (West) with prior appointment. Call 98211 72450 OFFICE FOR SALE Office for sale at Khira Nagar in Santa Cruz (West). Located on the ground floor the office has a carpet area of 363 sq. ft. and also boasts of 2 cabins and 2 toilets and also comes with a commercial license from BMC. Contact Mr Gupta (owner) on 9323572448

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BANDRA BUZZ | DECEMBER 2019

Photowalk 2019 a big hit

5 Reasons to head to Kaitlyn’s Beer Garden right now!

Whether it’s beer, comfort food, a chill vibe, hot dates or family get-togethers - Kaitlyn’s Beer Garden has something for everyone. Offering a casual dining experience, the bar attracts an eclectic mix of people with its welcoming feel. Now, with a revamped look, here are more reasons to visit them! 1) Need a Hotspot for Date Night? No worries! Enjoy romantic lighting and a cosy vibe, with your beau, thanks to Kaitlyn’s charming and intimate ambience. Designed to emulate a garden, the French Countryside decor and illuminated autumn trees add a warm feel, setting the perfect mood for date night. They even have a se- delicious, satisfying, offers a hint of spice & cluded table, for more privacy. complements any drink you try. If you prefer crunchy munchies, you can’t go wrong 2) Fun, Frolic and Beer with their Cheesy Nachos with a side of If you prefer to kick back with your buddies Guacamole or Salsa. The menu also includes and chug down a cold one, the bar provides Chicken 65, Buff Chilli, Pizzas, Pasta’s, Pepa chill vibe to engage in conversations, un- per Steak, Hummus, Burgers & more. wind from a long day or get together with family. Come in shorts or all dressed up – 4) Instagram Haven your call! Whatever your mood, just grab a What’s great is the venue enjoys the bright cold beer or glass of wine and chill! natural lighting, during the day, making it In addition to all your favourites like perfect for taking photos. Whether it’s viHopper Blonde, Hefeweizen and Stout, Kait- sually stunning food, a nice glass of wine or lyn’s Beer Garden offer Apple Cider and your favourite brunch outfit, it provides the Basil Blonde beer giving you zesty-minty perfect backdrop and lighting to fire up your options as well. A huge hit with the regu- Instagram and get those epic selfies going! lars is their Mini Cocktails. If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you’ll love their Expresso Marti- 5) Bottomless Deals ni. We found the Beetroot With A Twist to Get rid of weekday blues with Happy Hour have an earthy-frothy and sour punch with (every Tuesday) – offering Bottomless Beers a good amount of alcohol. If you prefer a with deals on beers all days (i.e. 12 noon -5 little sweetness, the friendly bartenders are pm Buy 1, Get 1; 5pm -9 pm Buy 2, Get 1 and quick to oblige. The Signature Cocktails in- 9 pm - 11 pm Buy 3, Get 1. For brunch, lovclude 3 Sip Down, a vodka-liqueur-hazelnut ers enjoy Sunday Brunch - Food a La Carte, based drink with a string of jalapenos. Enjoy Beer + Wine - Rs. 1200, Bucket Cocktails + a refreshingly strong and spicy kick as you Craft Beer - Rs. 1500, Mimosas/Sparkling bite into jalapenos with every sip. If you’re Wine - Rs. 1800. Or maybe just sing along a Wine/Sangria lover, they’ve got you cov- to your favourite tunes every Thursday with ered with all your favourites. Karaoke Night. In the New Year, they will be introducing new appetizers like Indian ke3) Comfort Food for Every Mood babs popularly known has chicken tikka, Featuring Italian, Mediterranean and Amer- mincemeat kebab, soya chaap kebab and ican finger foods, the menu has an inter- burgers. The preparation will be completely national flair that excites your taste buds. in-house including the marination spices. Among these, the Beer Battered Calamari is Risa Desa

Photowalk 2019 kicked off with a fresh look at Tresind, a restaurant which manages to capture an essential take on deconstructed, modern Indian food. A safe space for photographers to experiment with their cameras and models to experiment with their looks. The chic and futuristic interiors complimented the energy of the photowalk, giving it a subtle but powerful vibe. Yet another escapade for various photographers wanting to capture the raw beauty and brazen looks of women from different walks of life. This meet gave photographers from various walks of life a chance to come under one name, Kevin Lobo. The photowalk included established and professional photographers to some young budding photographers capturing some great and unforgettable moments. Participants and models from all over Maharashtra were a part of this event and this was the first photowalk to witness 25% of its registrations covered by women aspiring to be photographers. Kevin Lobo, the spark behind this brilliant concept, had but one thing in mind when he planned this; to give aspiring photographers a chance to learn more about the art and women who love to model, a chance to be themselves and follow their passion. A mild twist to the words glitz and glam, this event was all about providing a platform for photographers and models to explore a new perspective on photography. All the photographers were highly enthusiastic to capture some candid moments

during the photowalk. This photowalk also helped the group to share some new ideas and their knowledge with each other. The event was organised by Kevin Lobo along with Portraits Magazine India and featured models like Darshana Gade, Asha Sharma, Priya Mehta, Janhvi Hate, Tapasya Solanki and a guest model, Aneri Chowdhury. Kimaya Nagwekar, the make-up artist was flawless and so was Neha Gangolli, the fashion designer who ensured each model looked their best. The photowalk was sponsored by Ultimate Dreamers Co - Morinda who believe in promoting fitness and a healthy living environment. There were gym bags, protein bars, peanut butter and workout merchandise given away as gift hampers. With a beaming smile upon his face, Kevin proudly said, “After receiving some heartwarming compliments from people, who have attended other photowalks, they said this was by far the best one till date and well organised, I feel like we’ve just raised the bar of expectations that had been set and we look forward to hosting them again and obviously live up to their expectations and try to make it a better experience.” In the words of Robert Frank, ‘there is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.’ Photowalk 2019 managed to capture a certain amount of humanity in the way it unfolded and we hope to see Kevin Lobo scale greater heights and make dreams come true. Nayan Sreenivasan

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Bandra couple grow over 25 different types of vegetables & fruits on their terrace garden

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Amp up your Holiday Gifting & Decor this season with Customized Bottle Covers, Quirky Holiday T-shirts, Crochet creations & more! From adorable stocking fillers to New Year & wedding gifts; take your gifting game up a notch with these innovative festive items. If you haven’t finished up your holiday shopping just yet- no worries! These Bandra entrepreneurs have got you covered. Whether it’s Secret Santa duty, party gift hunting or just some crafty holiday home decor, choose from an array of items that include wacky t-shirts, holiday sweet baskets Christmas themed wine accessories, handmade decorations, and more.

to up your hosting game or need a party gift, they offer adorable yet elegant Christmas themed wine bottle covers & labels (Rs. 700 with the wine) - adding a personalized touch to your get-togethers. Not to mention, they also make a great New Year Party addition. To jazz up your decor, The Gifting Panda offers stunning Christmas table light displays, decorations & adorable Santa sweet baskets that complement your decor as well as hold your delicious goodies. Light up your room with their ‘Merry Christmas’ lights giving your home a warm holiday feel or welcome If savvy person- the wonder of the moon into your house alized messages with their innovative moon lamp. Call: & quirky gifts are 098335 82335 Facebook: @thegiftingpanda your thing, The Gifting Panda is If you’re looking the place for you. for some oh-soFounded by Duadorable custom jon Fernandes shoes for the and Randolph little ones, The Mathias, The Custom Culture Gifting Panda by Alezzandra offers an eclectic mix of holiday, special Rodi offers holoccasion and round-the-year customized iday - themed gifting items. Among these, they sell a range shoes (Rs. 700of personalized t-shirts that include ‘Game Rs. 1000) among of Thrones’ quotes, Christmas designs and their customized sneaker designs. You can captions, savvy catchphrases & personal also add a little holiday cheer to your home messages too. You can even zest up your with their personalized coasters too. They bachelorette parties with some spicy t-shirt also offer customized keychains, envelopes, designs or show your love for Bandra with party favours, statement jewellery & more. their ‘Bandra Bugger’ collection. If you want Order via Instagram: @thecustomculture.

If you love all things crochet, then Crochet Creations By Susan D’silva has some beautiful Christmas themed handmade house & tree decorations (Rs. 40 onwards) as well as adorable kids clothes, home decor, sofa furnishing, soft toys & more. What’s cool is that she has created an entire Nativity scene that includes everything from crochet animals to shepherds! Adding a warm festive vibe to your home, Susan’s handmade

reeds & reindeer themed table decor definitely stand out. If you’re just looking to get comfy this season, she even makes customized crochet blankets (Rs. 1800 onwards) to keep you feeling snug all winter. Contact: 9820600056 or check out @CrochetCreationsbySusan on Facebook. Animal lovers, Malaika’s adorable Cattitude calendar might be just what you need to kick start the New Year. For animal-themed customized designs, contact- 9004927004. So whatever you’re looking for, let your personality speak through your gifts & decor this season. Risa Desa

Your Home. Your Way.

For Indoor (Air purifying /Beautifying) exotic plants & Outdoor (Flowering/Fruiting/ Veggies/Herbs, etc), Herbal and Organic Pesticides and Fertilizers, All kind of planters (pots) and so on.. Navjeevan 20-A, Chimbai Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050 Call: +91-9167650002 / 9167650001 | Website: www.growbites.com

Call Ibec Decor for all your home decorating needs at +91-9833859852 Instagram: @IbecDecor

& Happy New Year 2020 to all my well wishers Zeeshan Siddique MLA - Bandra East