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8th December 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 12 |
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Alert ALM 102 exposes BMC’s shoddy work of reinforced concrete drain on St. Paul Road Will Corporators Asif & Karen get the incorrect work RE-DONE correctly? Around the start of November, the BMC started working on the west side of St. Paul Road, to help the decades-old flooding issue get resolved. In an otherwise superb neighbourhood, monsoon flooding is one major issue – especially at high tide. Rain water from Pali Hill comes via Anthony Garage to St. Paul Road and then to the ‘Khalla’ – towards Chimbai, into the sea. Any blocked drain, will impede the immense flow and flood the areas. After digging, the reinforced concrete walls were built – and only then, did alert ALM members realise that the shoddy ongoing BMC work would soon crumble, due to the side pressure from continuous heavy traffic – especially large buses & water tankers. Municipal Corporators Karen & Asif visited the site and interacted with knowledgeable neighbouring residents, to find out what exactly was wrong. Contd. on Page 8 >>
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02 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
RANWAR INVITES YOU TO A FESTIVAL OF FUN, FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT We’re in the festive month of December and what better way to kick start the festivities than with the Ranwar Festival. But this is not just any festival as Ranwar celebrates its cultural and historical importance to Bandra and the preservation of a close culturally rich community build over the years. Ranwar has been a close knit village community dating from much before the 1700s and has evolved ever since. Present day Ranwar reflects changed times. The once quiet, peaceful lanes are now bustling thoroughfares for traffic seeking a short route from the Bandra Reclamation to ‘Hill Road’ and beyond. The most telling and poignant reminder of an era gone forever, is the sight today of village doors, closed in the daytime. There was a time a few years ago, when the door to every home, was opened at daybreak or a little before and kept open the entire day through, with little, swivel wooden doorstops at the bottom to prevent the wind from slamming them shut.
The Ranwar Festival will be held at Ranwar Square between 9th-11th December Both the front and the back entrances were left wide open, welcoming neighbours and
friends who might happen to drop in. Theft was a rarity as was the presence of a
stranger in the neighbourhood. Every passerby was a familiar face and most called out a greeting or stopped for a short chat and a bit of gossip. Time was to spend in renewing contacts constantly. (Golden Bandra) However, in these changing times, these close knit communities plan to revive that forgotten era of Ranwar with a funfilled 3 days of non-stop entertainment with food and festivities on the 9th, 10th and 11th of December, 4pm to 8 pm. The RTO has granted permission for the road to be closed to traffic during this time so that festival goers will have free use of the Christmas-decorated street. There will be street-side stalls with sweets, foodstuff and Christmas knicknacks and much more. The Ranwar Square and The Oratory will feature live music too. And finally there will be photo exhibits on display. So Bandraites, you better make sure that you don’t miss out on this one. See ya there! Dujon Fernandes
NEWS
BANDRA BUZZ
DECEMBER 2016 03
BMC team up with Bandra Collective to make aesthetic improvements at Peace Heaven Bandra, as we know, is Mumbai’s favorite suburb with a lot of open spaces. In fact a lot of open spaces that are lying unused and undeveloped. Grounds like Peace Haven and parks such as Patwardhan Park and Joggers Park provide multipurpose recreational solutions that cater to people of varying age groups, be it children, teenagers or the elderly. Mr. Asif Zakaria (Municipal Corporator), has teamed up with a group of architects who are all residents of Bandra and go by the moniker Bandra Collective to restore and develop grounds like Peace Haven and Patwardhan Park. In fact, the more observant Bandraites would have noticed a granite and marble sign that has been erected at Mount Mary chowk. This group aims at re-designing parks, creating running tracks and transforming unused open spaces into aesthetic, recreational areas for the residents of Bandra. The Bandra Collective consists of six city-based architects, all of whom have their individual practices; The Busride Design Studio, Samir D’monte Architects, Sameep Padora & Associates, Urban Studio, Abraham John Architects, and Architecture Brio. “We all live in Bandra, some of us have been born and brought up here and we’re tired of complaining about the inconvenient sidewalks and the congestive traffic”, says Mr. Sameep Padora. “Abroad, people have to pay a certain amount for parking, whereas entry into parks is free of cost. Out here, it’s the complete opposite”, says Mr. Alan Abraham, “People park their cars on the road without much consideration making it difficult for other residents to walk or go about their evening jogs, especially with not many sidewalks available as well.” The recent project which the Bandra Collective has undertaken is the development of the Peace Haven ground and Patwardhan Park. Peace Haven, as many of you already know, is a ground comfortably tucked away behind the towering Chand Terrace buildings. This muddy field has served the purpose of a football arena as well as a cricket field for many of Bandra’s youngsters. The development of this ground has already begun and shall soon sport a new look and feel, including a new multipurpose court for basketball, volleyball and other activities. “The BMC had chartered a rough plan and were going to go ahead with the development; however, there were a couple of drawbacks and glitches”, says Mr. Samir D’monte. The Bandra Collective stepped in and added value to the plan and design. “Right now, we aren’t planning projects from scratch. Along with the BMC, we’re picking up on their designs and modifying them”, Mr. Padora says. Patwardhan Park is also in the process of being redeveloped keeping in mind the festivity of Durga Pooja that occurs each year in that very park. Mr. Abraham says, “The BMC had established a budget and come up with a plan, to develop the Peace Haven ground, that wasn’t quite satisfactory. We advised them, worked in collaboration with them and came up with a more accommodating plan that was well within their budget.” The Bandra Collective works probono and their initiatives were more than welcomed by the BMC. These plans and measures being undertaken by the Bandra Collective and Mr. Asif Zakaria will definitely renew Bandra’s charm and make it a more pedestrian-friendly place, with a whole lot of better things to come. Nayan Sreenivasan
PEACE HEAVEN GARDEN, BANDRA (WEST) LEGEND 1) Basket Ball + Volley Ball + Badminton 2) Seating + Parkour 3) Long Jump Pit 4) Jogging Track 5) Multipurpose Mound 6) Skating Arena 7) Changing Room + Toilets + Store Room 8) Soccer + Cricket Pitch 9) Seating 10) Kids Play Area + Open Gym
04 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
Could Bandra go completely cashless? The Institute for Business in the Global Context at Tufts University ran a study in New Delhi in 2014. The objective was simple - how much time does the average Indian spend trying to get physical cash? Over the course of a year, the residents of Delhi spent nearly six million hours & over nine crore rupees just to get physical banknotes from their own bank accounts. In many ways, physical cash is a relic of the past. It costs money to print, distribute, store & keep track of physical banknotes. It’s also massively inconvenient & can be easily lost or stolen. The recent demonization drive has put this mundane but vital part of the Indian economy into fresh perspective. The Reserve Bank of India & BJP government have been pushing for cashless virtual transactions for years, but their efforts have intensified as people deal with the cash crunch. Bandraites might struggle with this transition. Regardless of age or tech-savvy, most common expenses are dealt in cash. Rickshaws, grocery stores, chaiwalas on Bandstand , and retailers on Linking Road won’t accept anything other than regular notes. Even for businesses willing to go cashless picking the right provider is a compli-
cated task. There are far too many different players with different networks in the virtual payments market. The clear leader in terms of size is Paytm. Over 100 million people use it across India & transactions worth more than Rs. 24,000 crore were processed in 2016 alone. You can pay for everything from movie tickets to Uber & Ola rides through the virtual wallet. Meanwhile, other payment gateways like MobiKwik, Oxigen, Vodafone mPesa, FreeCharge &
Airtel Money have all carved out specific niches in the market. Not to mentions the thousands of company-specific online wallets offered by firms like Ola, Uber & Flipkart. Banks have been trying to launch their own custom solutions as well. HDFC Bank’s PayZapp & SBI’s State Bank Buddy are good examples of how big banks have also entered this crowded market. This overcrowded market has been overwhelming for many first-time users
who struggle to pick the right solution. Fortunately, it seems the mobile wallet industry is heading for some much-needed consolidation. The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) launched the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) to help unify all bank accounts & mobile wallets on a central platform. An individual can now transact in real time through a single Aadhaar-linked mobile app or online account. This should help ease consumer concerns & make it easier for ordinary citizens to adopt virtual payments. UPI should also help ease concerns over online security. The interface allows transactions to go through without the need for account-holders to divulge sensitive information like bank account numbers, one-time passwords or phone numbers. Despite the benefits of a cashless economy, Bandra, like the rest of the country, will not transition away from cash overnight. A lack of awareness is holding back widespread adoption. But the recent demonetization drive and cash crunch could push millions of people to finally adopt this seamless technology for the first time. Vishesh Raisinghani
SHINE BRIGHT THIS CHRISTMAS with tips from Feng Shui expert Maria Hussain Bandra is its best in December. The Christmas season is full of greetings and cheer. So, let’s charge our homes with wonderful Feng Shui energy too. Easy to implement – just follow these 7 tips. Tip#1: Create a bright doorway effect: Christmas lights keep the doorway extra bright and bring in new energy for your home. It also gives a welcoming feeling for family and friends. If possible, use blue lights around your door if it faces north. Tip#2: Decorate up: Hang garlands and lights so they smile and swag. Decorations with ends hanging ‘down’ create a subconscious sadness. To ‘lift’ the mood and vibe of the room, decorate at eye level. Tip#3: Create mood lighting: Use scented aromatic candles and side lamps to complement the overhead lighting. Sometimes
too much light can create anxious situations, eye strain, headaches and anger. Tip #4: Add plants: Bring in the poinsettias in the 4 corners of the living room, dining room, balconies & garden. These corners create cozy spots & promise miracles and magic when used as Christmas decorations Tip#5: Tree placement: Try placing that plush and tall Christmas tree in the south area of your living room or garden to give you that extra boost of recognition. Add red decorations and a big shiny star on top. Also, you can place your healthy green tree in the east area of your home to bring the family together. Tip#6: Present the presents: Do you want to feel prosperous? Simply place lots of wrapped Christmas presents under the tree… early, if you can. This will be one of the few times where I won’t call a pile of boxes “clutter.” Think of how you felt when you were a child surrounded by holiday cheer & presents. You never grow out of that feeling.
Tip#7: Welcome your holiday visitors: Ask them to add a decoration to your Christmas tree. Have a basket of ornaments & goodies sitting at the foot of the tree so that each visitor can add to and ongoing string. In this way everyone’s loving energies will be linked throughout the festive season.
guest room. In Feng Shui, wood is associated with family and friends. It allows for a welcoming feel.
Tip#8: Frame it: Have live in guests? Put a fun or happy picture of them with you in a wooden frame. Place it in the living or
Call +91-9967678652 for an appointment or e-mail bhcfengshui@gmail.com or visit our website www.bhcfengshui.com
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BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
DECEMBER 2016 05
The ‘Golden Gals’ - Class of 1966 You may call it a heady mix of serendipity and nostalgia, when we re-discovered each other over the last few years. Yes, we the “schoolgirls” of Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra - who finished school in 1966; celebrated our Golden Jubilee with a Grand Re-union on 25th November 2016 in the school premises for “ole time’s sake.” 55 “ex-schoolgirls”, including our diaspora from the US, Canada, UK, Austria, South Africa and other metros in the country; joined the local “lasses”, to personally re-kindle schoolgirl bonds -forged 50 years ago. Speaking about ourselves… You can easily label us: an eclectic band of talented, fun loving, spunky women. Although we are all in our sixties, we love to refer to ourselves as “recycled teenagers, stuck in a time warp” given our level of exuberance and vivacity. In a manner of speaking, all of us somehow seem to radiate the élan and enthusiasm of a teenager. Seriously though, we have metamorphosed from shy introverts into self confident women. In a decadent world of crumbling values, we have emerged as women who have successfully balanced
home and career - and lived to tell the tale. We have doctors, bankers, teachers, 2 nuns, social activists, entrepreneurs - not forgetting the sizable faction of dedicated home makers in our ranks. Two of our colleagues have been International Civil Servants in the UN. JUBILEE: We just concluded a 3-day celebration,
commencing with a thanksgiving mass and a get-together in the school premises; with everyone gleefully soaking in the old school habitat. There was that glint of gold everywhere, from the resplendent hall to the outfits and golden corsages worn by the ecstatic ladies. The event was one high octane drama of fun and frolic – a “no-holds barred” festival of enthusiasm, gaiety, singing and dancing. It was an awesome re-
union of one-time schoolgirls, meeting after decades; as quite a few of us met each other after 50 long years. Needless to say, there is also a lingering poignancy in the air - for we know deep down in our hearts, that this could probably be the very last time the Girls of 1966 met en masse, before the inevitable finally catches up. Millie Castelino
06 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
IN FOCUS
Celeste Cordo: Keeping the celestial glory of music alive in Bandra Musician and composer Celeste Cordo has been keeping the spirit of music and its association with Bandra alive for nearly 45 years. Born to a family of musicians, music has been intrinsic for her and an integral part of her upbringing. Being a member of the Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO), playing in Josic’s Pop symphony, singing in ‘The Gleehive’ childrens choir, organizing church choirs, making music at home with the family were the regular ensemble experiences that helped her hone her skills as a musician and enhanced her technical expertise not only in handling large groups of musicians but arranging composing, and conducting. Residents of Bandra for the longest time have been patrons of music and this enriched the lives of all to whom Bandra was h o m e . During the 80’s and 90’s, Celeste began to notice a change of cultural trends pertaining to music. There was a seismic dip in the number of children who were learn-
ing music, specifically classical in nature. Classical instruments were being replaced by their electronic avatars and the piano, violin, clarinet, acoustic guitar were becoming relics of the past. This was detrimental to the future of music in Bandra and the ones to be most affected by this insipid change would be the Bandraite of tomorrow. The influence of music on residents of Bandra was such that every second family had either a budding musician or a professional musician. Music & Bandra were inseparable. The knowledge and joy of music handed down from the preceding generations, must be passed on to future generations, and so, she decided to revive ‘The Gleehive’ in the year 1989. Passing the baton to her daughter Dawn Cordo, was not good enough, she had to find many other young willing people all over Mumbai and India to inspire and to take forward this musical tradition. The Gleehive Music Education program was conceptualised and has been taken forward by Dawn Cordo to provide a wellcharted experience for children to help them enjoy the process of music and its creation. They ensure that children get an opportu-
nity to learn instruments such as the clarinet and other classical wind instruments. The sheer vigour with which Celeste taught her students got them a chance to perform at the annual International Festival of Sacred Music organized by the International Federation of Pueri Cantores in Germany in the year 2004. The Gleehive performed original compositions which were conceptualised and presented by her in 14 Indian languages with help from professionals - Rajat Dholakia, Vijay Prakash and Clinton Cerejo. This was an enriching experience and led to the formation of Cadenza Kantori which is now the leading choir of the Pueri Cantores India Federation. Cadenza has performed in India, Germany, France, the US, and Canada. Today Celeste trains musicians who have a flair for teaching and gives them her dedicated support in their endeavors to keep the tradition of music alive not only in Bandra but all over Mumbai. Right now
her plate is full organizing and overseeing the smooth functioning of the 13th Festival of Sacred Music. Pueri Cantores India Federation organises and continues to take forward the tradition of Sacred Choral music in India. This year’s festival has 12 participating choirs from Mumbai including Vasai and will be held at St Peter’s Church on December 11 between 11:15am - 9pm. Celeste Cordo has one message for the readers of Bandra Buzz. “Keep the tradition of music alive in Bandra. Don’t let it die”! She addresses parents, insisting that they emphasise not only on their children’s academics but also on values that will enrich their life’s experiences and make them better citizens. These values are promoted through the coming together of people to make music. And last but not the least, to come in large numbers and encourage the participants of the festival, after all it’s the festive season! Sidhant Nayangara
IN FOCUS
BANDRA BUZZ
DECEMBER 2016 07
24-year-old Director Daniel Demenezes's journey from Bandra to Hollywood!! Bandra Buzz got up close & personal with Daniel Frank Demenezes. Excerpts from the interview, where he shares the challenges encountered, the victorious achieved and his advice to aspirant film makers.
mersed in the world of cinema. While studying we were introduced to each and every aspect of film production and then we had to choose the path we wanted to go down. It was here that I decided I wanted to take up direction as my major subject .
Could you tell our readers about yourself? I grew up in Bandra & finished my schooling at St. Stanislaus High School. Playing it safe I then completed my academics from Mithibai College pursuing and graduating in the stream of Science. I’m also a trained pianist and have finished my Grade 6 exams from the Trinity College, London. I was actively involved in a lot of art competitions. It was great growing up in Bandra because of its diverse culture and energy.
Tell us more about the film(s) that you're currently working on? My award winning film ‘Mia’ is currently being developed into a feature script and aim to get it into production by 2018. Right now I am working on polishing the script. I will also be working as the Director of Photography on a feature film starting 2017. Along with this I’m also developing another feature film that I’m trying to get into production by the end of 2017. We are in the process of coming up with crowdfunding the ‘Festival de Cannes’. The film then went campaigns for the film. on to win ‘Best Thriller’ at the ‘Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, 2016’. It What does it take to establish a career as was also chosen as a finalist at the ‘Los An- a Director and film maker? geles Cine Fest’. It was a proud moment for My advice to all the young, aspiring and upme when 'Mia' was screened at the presti- coming filmmakers is ‘Don’t stop making gious ‘Warner Bros Studios’. After I finished films and never give up'. This line of work film school I was fortunate to be able to is challenging, competitive and highly dework on my first feature film in Los Ange- manding. You will come across people who les. After that I got the opportunity to work are going to discourage you or tell you on my big feature film which starred Denise you’re not going to make it, but if you just Richards & Mike Tyson which was released believe in yourself & your ideas and make this year in the United States. Since then it a point to go out there and learn and keep I’ve worked on various short films, music shooting, even if it is a 1 minute film you are videos, commercials & feature films. on the right path. As filmmakers we can reach out to a large audience and letting Who gave you the first break? people hear our voice though visual images The film industry is not the easiest place to and a creative compelling story can do just work in because there are so many talented that. If your first film is not a success, don't people and it is quite cut throat. While in let that get you down because it’s a long film school we are always told that the first journey out there and only you can make it couple of months or maybe even a year one happen if you put your mind to it and keep would have to work for free or just do peo- pushing. Just be patient and love what you ple favors and work on their projects. How- do, the rest will fall into place. ever when I was in school I made it a point Sidhant Nayangara to get myself on sets outside of school and thus started building my network and contacts even before I graduated. I kept in touch with my contact and made it a point to share my work with them and keep giving them updates so they knew I was always working on something. I edited a short video for free for a producer here and after working on it and making changes he was absolutely happy with my work and offered me a job on a feature film where I got paid for my work.
How did your career as a director & cinematographer begin? Even though I studied Science, I always had a flair for the creative arts and would constantly be doodling and sketching out stuff that I would see. I would sit sometimes for hours on my computer doing visual effects on some of the videos which I recorded. Soon I decided to get a degree in Design; I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Design and was elected Valedictorian of my class in Raffles Design International. I had excellent professors and they encouraged me to incorporate the concept of moving image in all of my projects. I then started working at Labyrinth Solutions headed by Siddhartha Jayakar who took me under his wing and gave me an opportunity to work as a junior compositor on international television shows like Californication, Killing Lincoln to name a few. I keep myself up to date about the latest techniques and incorporate them into my films. So my first set of films were VFX based. As soon as I graduated I put together a crew, comprising of friends and classmates who were willing to come and act in my independent film ‘Flawed’. I was the Director & the Director of Photography on the project and I had a great crew who helped make it happen. A month after submitting the film to various international festivals we got news that my film ‘Flawed’ won the ‘Gold Lion Award’ at the ‘Barcelona International Film Festival’. That was a major turning point and ever since I have not looked back. I immersed myself
completely into film production, packed my bags and travelled to Los Angeles and completed my Masters in Film and Media Production from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Since then I’ve been working on various films in Hollywood. Could you tell us about the work you've done so far? Direction has always been my strong point because I love working with actors and narrating a story through the moving image. My goal is to create films which are relevant and content based. Since I studied design I was aware of compositions and framing which helped me immensely as a filmmaker. Since I’m a musician as well my background makes it possible to get clarity of vision and sound. It helps me to keep in mind what the soundtracks in my film should sound like right from the initial stages of the film. I’m also a Director of Photography so I’m actively involved with the camera department and technicians. I have been the Director of Photography on over 20 films in the United States. My film ‘Mia’ which I directed recently was an ‘Official Selection’ at ‘Court Métrage Short Film Corner’ at
Was your time with New York Film Academy the game changer in your career? My time at the New York Film Academy was amazing. It was hands on intensive right from the first day; we were playing around with cameras and got completely im-
08 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
Alert ALM 102 exposes BMC’s shoddy work of reinforced concrete drain on St. Paul Road Contd. from Page 1 The following faulty issues were observed by Charles Simoes: • The concreting is being done without supervision, with no drawings to guide them – shocking! • The outer shuttering uses only thin wood planks on the east wall & were placed out of line. • The allowable tolerances were definitely violated. • Several full concrete paver blocks in pairs were used as ‘spacers’ and left inside the shuttering. • The outer reinforcement was placed about 125 to 150mm away from their required position, resulting in excessive cover and nullifying their use as flexural reinforcement. • Reinforcement is not placed in line and within standard tolerances. • No cover blocks to maintain clear cover of 25mm are being used. • No drawings and specifications are available at site – a serious offence. • No treatment was done while pouring fresh concrete on the "cold" joints in the walls and loose aggregates were visible. • No needle vibrator was available for compaction. • No slump test was done to check workability of concrete. • No cube specimens were taken at the site for testing. • Some horizontal reinforcement is missing on the east wall. • No safety shoes, hard hats or rubber gloves are being used by the workmen. In fact, most of the workers were in open chappals. Indeed, too many errors, to be condoned. This is when the concerned ALM 102, swung into action. Mr. Glen D'Costa, ALM Chairman, told us, "Residents have always insisted that their work should coincide with civic works and newly re-laid stretches not trenched. But as has been the past experience, it is not uncommon for
An overview of the drain job on St. Paul Road - notice the paver blocks used as spacers agencies of utilities to dig up a stretch, within weeks of the BMC repairing it. Worse, these agencies do not fill up the trenches properly when they are done. According to the BMC’s trenching guidelines, a dug-up footpath or road is to be restored to its useable condition within seven days of completion of the trenching activity. But the ground reality is very far from this norm. Also, agencies for underground utilities are supposed to submit an annual plan with information about the details of roads and footpaths that need to be dug. Currently, the agencies submit their request whenever they want to lay their lines, independently of each other, causing hazards to people and considerable inconvenience to traffic and pedestrians. As an active and concerned ALM, we are protesting that the ongoing work is not according to laid-out procedures". Gerard Gonsalves, ALM Secretary added, "We expect that this transition to civic work being carried out to specified norms is followed by the contractor/s, so that the positive change we want to see, becomes a reality". RESIDENT’S PARTICIPATION: Bandra Buzz was present when Charles Simoes pointed out the shoddy work done, to Municipal Corporators Karen D’Mello
and Asif Zakaria, who arranged the meeting with BMC and the Contractor. They all gave a patient hearing and the assurance that the contractor will provide quality work in adherence to the civic norms. Asif told the contractors, “I am not clearing this work. I will call vigilance, since you are not doing checking of steel rod placements before casting? Also, you need to co-operate with Reliance and other utility agencies, like gas. Here, people want to participate in the technicalities and we should help them. If people are not happy – please break it and redo. I will stop the work, if the drawings are not shown here to the residents. Being a major job – shouldn’t the engineer, supervisor and contractor be on site?” Karen added, “This is the busiest link road in Bandra - and all norms should be strictly adhered.” More on this issue can be viewed on www.bandrabuzz.com/alm102.html Asking, both corporators, on their take about this scenario, their answer was, “This is the ideal scenario where residents participate. I am thankful to the active residents of St. Paul Road for highlighting these work flaws. As corporators, we are not technically qualified to know everything. Working collectively as a team will surely get us better results.”
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PIPED MAHANAGAR GAS No duct provisions for utility cables were seen. These are very important to avoid future digging. Residents of ALM 102 who need to make an application for Piped Mahanagar Gas and an inlet pipe provision to their society / bungalow compound, should contact Glen D’Costa immediately on +91 9930911163, for guidance. Asif Zakaria is interacting with the concerned utility authorities and him. LOGICAL ENDING? Yes, tax money is literally going down the drain, because of the nexus between corrupt contractors and the BMC. Can this trend be stopped? Will we have a logical ending to this burning issue? The million dollar question is: Will our elected representatives Asif & Karen get the incorrect civil work RE-DONE from start - and more importantly – done in the correct manner? Time will tell. Bandra Buzz Team
NEWS
DECEMBER 2016 09
BANDRA BUZZ
FOR PIA SUTARIA, LIFE IS POINTLESS WITHOUT BALLET At the young age of twenty, when most of us were at the crossroads of our lives deciding what our next step in life would be post college, Pia Sutaria had already decided what she wanted to do with her life. Although Pia is a proficient singer, writer, violinist et al, it is ballet - her one true love that makes her feel alive! Not even a shoulder injury, sustained while performing a ballet routine at one of her performances could stop her from following her passion. This prima ballerina also topped her exam at the Royal Academy of Dance from the UK – an international board specialising in dance education and training, with much emphasis on classical ballet. Born in a family that lives and breathes music, Pia started her training in ballet at the tender age of five. Interestingly, as a five-year old, Pia hated ballet and was more tomboyish, as she likes to call herself – an antithesis from the dancer that she is. But it was only after she watched the movie Billy Elliot, did she change the way she looked at ballet, and from that day hence, she knew ballet was going to be her love for the rest of her life. And for the next 12 years, her mother Tina, who is herself an accomplished singer with the Stop Gaps choral ensemble and an inspiration to Pia, used to take the journey to drop her daughters (Pia
has a twin sister, Tara) to ballet classes in South Mumbai from Bandra almost every afternoon after school. Recently, in August, Pia participated in and won her first ever pageant, the Reina Petite Intercontinental 2016 held at San Jose in the rain-forested Republic of Costa Rica. What made this achievement of hers even more special was the fact that she was the first Asian and Indian ever to be crowned with the title. It was no mean feat however, as Pia was up against girls who had received professional training for pageant contests. From an initial pool of a hundred and fifty from India itself, Pia made it to the top 20. The final round that was held in Goa, was, according to her, an experience that was exhausting yet fulfilling and one of self-discovery. Every day for the week spent in Goa the contestants didn’t just pose for pictures as you may imagine, but were involved in creating and conducting awareness campaigns for various social causes like breast cancer awareness, save the girl child and the like for long hours. Eventually, Pia was crowned Miss Reina Petite Intercontinental India, which took her to the international finals in Costa Rica. Besides being crowned with top honours in Costa Rica, the graceful and gifted Pia also bagged the titles for Best in Behav-
iour, Best in Bikini and of course, Miss Talented. Closer back home, the down-to-earth Pia is the head of the ballet division at The Danceworx, a top dance academy based in Mumbai, as also a member and one of the senior dancers at the Navdhara India Dance Academy, a contemporary dance company founded by the famous Indian-Australian choreographer Ashley Lobo. Pia has also showcased her talent in singing at numerous concerts, including a couple of them at the NCPA. She is also an integral part of the
Celia Lobo Academy of Voice (CLAV) which is headed by Deirdre Lobo; not to forget her proficiency with her tranquil violin. When asked about how she manages to utilise so many of her talents all at once she replies, “You make time for the things you love doing.” On further prodding, she admitted with a smile that her friends have the one complaint that she doesn’t make enough time for them. But then again, her friends must also be happy that they have such a gifted friend in Pia. Valerian D'Costa
RENTING A SHOP IN BANDRA IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET YOU BUSINESS Started a business & rented a shop in Bandra & Khar? Confused why there are no walk ins? Before you decide to shut shop, think again! Do people know about your shop? That’s because you haven’t promoted your brand with us. With a belief in quality over quantity, Bandra Buzz doesn’t only confirm clientele, but also renewals and repeated walk ins. If you don’t show it, they won’t know it! You took the risk of starting out, now get the expertise to make it work, with us!
For advertising information call: 9820783686 / 9920299787
BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010
20th November 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 11 |
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Dengue – the ‘New Plague’ Dengue deaths in Bandra & the city are rising at an alarming rate enough to term it as the ‘new plague’. Most hospitals we visited were full of dengue patients – many with dangerously low platelet & white blood cell count, along with high fever & other symptoms. Those with a weak immune system, easily fall prey to dengue, chikungunya, malaria or something similar leading to fatal endings, if not treated correctly. It all starts with an infected mosquito bite. Which virus causes dengue? Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses, spread by mosquitoes that thrive in and near human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mos-
quito. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person's bloodstream. How long does it take to show symptoms of dengue fever? Many people, especially children & teens, may experience no signs or symptoms during a mild case of dengue fever. When symptoms do occur, they usually begin 410 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito.
severe form of the illness, can cause organ damage, severe bleeding & even death.
Can you die of dengue fever? Countless patients are hospitalized each year, but most people recover after 2-7 days. Some develop dengue hemorrhagic fever, after the initial fever declines. A more
What are the symptoms of dengue fever in India? Symptoms of dengue fever are: • Sudden onset of fever. • Severe headache, pain behind the eyes.
• Muscle and joint pain, popularly called as breakbone fever. • A bright red rash usually appears 3-4 days after the onset of fever. • Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. • Gastritis and some abdominal pain. Contd. on Page 8 >>
10 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
68 schools participated at H Ward Science Exhibition held at St. Joseph's Convent High School The H Ward Science Exhibition 2016 for secondary schools and junior colleges was held at St. Joseph's Convent High School from 1st-3rd December, 2016. The theme of the exhibition was science, technology and mathematics in nation building. Out of around 100 schools in H Ward, including municipal schools and night schools, 68 schools participated and many more attended the exhibition. The annual science exhibition serves to inculcate scientific values, build scientific curiosity and develop scientific temper in the minds of young students. India has to take forward the legacy of luminaries like Homi J. Bhabha, C.V. Raman, our late President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and many more. The enthusiastic participation by so many students and teachers gives us great hope that these budding scientists will take our great country from a developing nation to a developed one. Innovative projects based on various themes were displayed by students, teachers and lab assistants. Prizes were given in each category. Eminent guests like Mr and Mrs V. V. Phansalkar, Bishop John Rodrigues, Shehzad Kaleem, Dr. Kiran Coelho, Sr. Valerie Miranda, Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, Karen D'mello were invited. A number of talks and seminars were conducted by Dr. Kiran Coelho
Vidyalankar Polytechnic, Light Bulb, STEM Robotics etc. for teachers, parents and students. Students from various schools who participated and won the Sahshaleya competitions, put up band displays, lezim, science songs, folk dances and much more. In addition, there was a book fair, a mini movie theater where short science movies were screened. There were stalls conducting "fun with science" experiments for the students, stalls displaying robotics, solar projects, handicrafts and home remedies by the Adivasis of Ambata (Nasik district). The other special features were the EduComp screening short experiments in every classroom, medical aid provided by Holy Family Hospital, canteen facility at Joseph's Dreamland grounds not forgetting the refreshment hall which provided sumptuous meals to the guests, principals and teachers. This year the school celebrates 140 years. It is the first time the school has hosted the ward level science exhibition. An event of this magnitude involves a lot of meticulous planning and well coordinated execution. The principal Sr. Blanche Rodrigues, staff, parents and students left no stone unturned to make this event a memorable one. Donna Baretto
DECEMBER 2016 11
BANDRA BUZZ
IN FOCUS
STUDIO SINERA Where studio creativity comes alive The Legacy 45 years of passion, over a 1,000 weddings captured and a lifetime of creating treasured timelines – that is Madhu Meghani, one of the pioneer photographers for Catholic weddings and for wedding photography in Mumbai. He has left more than just a fingerprint, on camera buttons he has clicked. His dream took root because he wanted to do film photography. He took his first steps toward his passion as a delivery boy. Then, after assisting many photographers, he slowly created in his own brand Studio Sinera. His quintessence lay in the fact that he was a ‘Gujarati who shot Catholic weddings’ - from Bandra to Town and Bandra to Borivali. Over the years, he has covered all sorts of functions, big and small through photography and video shooting. His lens has captured models, everyday people, common place occasions and turned them into so much more. His lens has even captured weddings in Australia, Singapore, and Dubai. Like fine wine, his talent has never dwindled but got better. So much so, he still captures as many occasions, as he can. His work is truly a place where studio creativity comes alive. Siddharth Meghani: From father to son, the passion and talent continues. Siddharth Meghani has, for the past 15 years, been behind the camera to continue in his father’s footsteps and take the legacy forward. He has strived hard to take the brand to a space between traditional and candid wedding photography and give clients the best of both worlds. He shoots not just Catholic weddings, but any and all weddings. He has moved beyond weddings to corporate shooting, models, table top, portfolios, etc. From analog to full HD shooting, Siddharth has made his own niche in the photography world. But his talents don’t just stop there. India’s most famous Elvis impersonator, Siddharth is also a musician. And for him, this blends perfectly with his video shooting, as
he can thus bring so much more to the table, where editing and adding music to videos is concerned. Siddharth, by far is a rare talent, that captures the essence of a moment, draw out that moment and lays it out - for the world to see. Weddings: The favourite part of weddings is watching the groom’s face when he sees his bride-tobe walk toward him in church. That one moment in time, when the entire world fades away and she is all he sees. He has that ‘goofy smile’ and that look in his eyes. Then she sees him. Her smile spreads like red tint on ripening tomatoes. She blushes. The golden moment has arrived… From traditional to candid moments, Siddharth captures them all at weddings. The timelines he creates, are timeless and stunning. Model Portfolios: Many have the looks, but not the shots to create a viable portfolio for their foray into the advertising, film or modeling world. For aspiring models, kids who want to get into ads, etc, Siddharth creates a veritable selection of shots, to take you forward into your career. Table Top Shooting: Aesthetic and composition are important factors in product shooting. Siddharth brings to this table, just the right blend of both, to put forth a product - the way it is meant to be seen. Portraits: Nothing speaks volumes quite like a portrait, be it that of a family or an individual. It stands testament, to lives lived and memories shared. At Studio Sinera, we love to let your picture do the talking. Marriage Portfolios: Many come around looking for portfolios of themselves, to be shared with a prospective husband or wife. We would love to showcase your true beauty, to help make the decision of a lifetime. Father and son - Siddharth Meghani (L) and Madhu Meghani (R) Airline Portfolios: The airline industry has always been one that focused on beauty. A lot of people wishing to be a part of this industry, need portfolios to put their first foot in the door. We help you take that next step. FlipBook: A glance through lives etched, memories made and times shared. Other services: Studio Sinera also undertakes the clicking
of passport photographs and visa photographs for various countries, ID photos, official photos, among others. We also undertake printing of photos, albums, etc. Contact: Siddharth Meghani, +91 9820675566 , +91 22 26419633 Studio Sinera, 9 New Jaldarshan, Chimbai Road, next to Joggers Park, Bandra W, Mumbai 400 050 studiosinera@gmail.com Website: studiosinera.com
12 DECEMBER 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
CLASSIFIEDS
ADVERTISE
EAST INDIAN FOOD
REPAIRS & SERVICES
Ad Agent for The Examiner & all leading newspapers. East Indian Bottle Masala. Buses to Tabor on First Fridays. Contact Adlord: 9702085823, 26005536 Helen: 88798 75918 Arun: 94200 85849
High Quality East Indian Home Food Available: Pan Rolls, Potato Chops, Cutlets, Cheezy Kebabs, Croquettes, Pancakes, Fugias, Sorpotel, Stuffed Chicken, etc. For Christmas sweets & cakes, call Marylou D'Souza on 9930614854
Washing Machine, Gas Stove, Microwave, Fridge & A.C. Bharat Service Centre, Pali Naka. Kindly contact Mr. Ramesh on 9892387330
BAKING & COOKING CLASSES Learn cakes, designer cakes, cupcakes, desserts, cake pops, sugarcraft, christmas sweets, easter eggs, chocolate making & different cuisines like mughlai, chinese, italian, mexican, ramzan special, biryani's, sandwiches, salads, lebanese, starters, pizzas, breeads & lots more. Call 9821310728 / 26422689 Facebook page: Chocolate Mania 9821310728
BEAUTY SERVICES Unique Blend Makeup & Hairstyles. We specialize in all kinds of makeup, hairstyles, nail and nail art extension. Home visit within Bandra available. Unique Blend Makeup & Hairstylesis a trainee from Enrich & Emerald academy. For appointments kindly call 9820236198 Mrs Patel
CAREER OPPORTUNITY Decide your own Income. Grow professionally and personally. International travel fully sponsored by the company (the most reputed & no. 1 company of India). Office infrastructure & world class training provided. Career that is rewarding and fulfilling. Your investments will be your time. Speak to: Suresh 9870200441 / Aarti 9820623180.
CHRISTMAS SWEETS Place your orders for Kul kuls, Marzipan, Mum's Delite, Fudge, Ribbon Cake with Marzipan, Fruit Cake, Nankatai, Rose Cookies, Thali Sweet, Bolinhas, Doce, Bath, Serradura Pudding, Marzipan House, Santa Stockings, Corporate Gifts, Snack boxes, etc. Kindly contact 9820089553
CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY WORKSHOP Two days basic course in Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy on 12th and 13th November 2016, 9am to 6pm, at Integrated Wellness Zone, Juhu Tara Road certified by EKAA Clinical Hypnotherapy Foundation, facilitated by Dr. Rahul Dutta practicing Allopath, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Acupuncturist and International Hypnotherapy Trainer. Contact : 7506319231 / 9821758177 www.iwz.co.in / Email: iwz@iwz.co.in
COMPUTER SERVICES For prompt and reliable service of home computers, laptops, notebooks and home networks, kindly call or send a WhatsApp message to Dennis Mendonca on 77386-47535
DANCE - JIVE/ ROCK & ROLL Learn social dancing (jive/chacha/waltz/salsa) in easy, fun & flexible sessions. Timings: Mon/Wed 7-8 pm and 8-9 pm, Sat & Sun 5.30-7 pm & 7-8.30 pm, Sun 11-12 am. Venues: St. Peters KG School & St. Joseph's Primary School. Contact Marlon 9820344010.
DRIVERS WANTED Experienced T-Permit Drivers needed for UBER / OLA. English Reading a must. Should be healthy, and willing to work hard and smart. Must be Mumbai Resident for at least 6 months. Good Incentives. Earning from 20,000 to 30,000 or more per month. Call 9820783616
SHARES & MUTUAL FUNDS
Students who have not studied French in school & wish to take it in college may contact Ms. E. DeSouza (26557915, 8879209904) For individual tuitions.
Transfer, Probate, Letter of Administration, Succession Certificate, Legal Heir, Will, Demat and Addition / Deletion of Name. Mobile: 9323244906 (Home Service) email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com (Advocate Co-ordinator Sunil Khosla, 30th Road, Bandra West
INCOME TAX CONSULTANT
SOCIETY SUPER MARKET
Income tax Consultant available for efiling of income tax returns and also attending to notices issued to individuals by the income tax department. Total cost for salaried class Rs 2,000 and others Rs 3,000 (Home Service) Email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com Mobile: 9323244906. 30th Road, Bandra West.
Get Best Rates for all your Household Groceries. Wide Range. We accept SODEXO Coupons & Cards, Ticket Restaurant Coupon & Cards and all Major Credit & Debit Cards. Visit Society Super Market, Shop # 6 & 7, Beach View Apts., 77, Chimbai Road, next to Chimbai Police Chowki, Bandra (W). Call 26403027/84, 26401829 or 9930665121
FRENCH TUITIONS
LOST PHYSICAL SHARES/DIVIDENDS Get doorstep personal service for your lost physical shares/dividends. Duplicate procedure & FIR & notary all in-house. We also offer services in insurance of cars/buildings/mediclaim and other financial consulting services. Contact 9821172450 or meet at B/34 Elco Arcade with prior appointment.
MUSIC SCHOOL Instruments taught at P.G. Garodia Conservatoire The Music School include piano, electronic keyboard, drums, guitar, violin and vocals. We prepare students for exams conducted by Trinity College, ABRSM and Rock School. Kindly contact Mr. Rufus 9819902898 for more details. Venue: Ground floor of St. Andrew's High School, Bandra.
NEEDLE WORK & CROCHET LADIES Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Dressmaking courses. Rs 1500 each. Call Mrs. D'silva 9820451695. Girls dresses stitched. Mufflers & baby sets available Rs 320. Visit annadsilva.wixsite.com/handson
PAINTING CLASSES Bring art into your home! Have fun while learning how to paint all different kinds of paintings like oil, acrylic, charcoal, water colour, and glass!! Open for all age groups. Contact person: Ms Divya Jain. Mobile: 9892541150. Email: jain.24.divya@gmail.com
PASSPORT CONSULTANT Passport Consultant available for online filing of passport in Mumbai and also taking appointment for Lower Parel / Andheri / Malad Office. Total cost Rs 3,000 (Visiting charge Rs 500 extra) Mobile: 9323244906. Email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com 30th Road Bandra West.
PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER Get massive & muscular built or lean & toned built. Complete fitness guidance and exercises till you reach your goal. Workouts conducted: Strength Training, Core muscle strengthening, and Cardio, by certified Fitness Trainers. A practical knowledge, how to perform different exercises and their benefits. Fees: With training, Rs. 2000 Without training, gym membership, Rs. 1500 (Training provided to male and female) Kindly contact: Danny - 9833831176 Location: #35, Pereira road, opposite Vastu Bandra bldg., slope going to Bandstand. Short distance from Mehboob Studio. Bandra
SPANISH CLASSES Hispanic Horizons is an Institute for teaching Spanish language. We have weekday and weekend courses suitable for both college students & working professionals. We are an accredited examination center to conduct international Spanish exams like DELE, DIE and specialized spanish exams for Business, Tourism and Medicine. We have a placement cell as well through which we help our students to get Spanish related jobs. There is no age limit for the Spanish courses; a person of any age is welcome to do our courses. Hispanic Horizons, Vas Chambers Building, 1st Floor, Hill rd, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400 050, Contact: +91-22-26409039 / +91-8082647938, Website: www.hispanic-horizons.org
TUITIONS Siraj Sir himself available for home tuition for mathematics physics and chemistry. Std 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th board: ICSE, CBSE, SSC, NIOS, IGCSE, HSC, IG ISC. Siraj Sir. Residence: 1401, Kapilvastu, Khar (w). Call: 09320203009 & 09320503009.
WEBSITE DESIGNER Create your mobile/tablet friendly website at attractive rates. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GET YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE NOW. JUST CALL 9930806874
YOGA CLASSES Yoga Class, off Hill Road, Bandra. Evening batch for ladies and girls Mon/Wed/Fri. Discount available. Asanas, Pranayama, Relaxation and Meditation techniques taught by teachers from The Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz. Call or WhatsApp DevYog Workshops 9820605810/65754215
Thousands of advertisers across Mumbai have listed their businesseses & services. It’s time you listed yours in our Classfied section for Rs. 500 today!
TO PLACE YOUR AD Call: 9820783686 or 9920299787 Email: advertise.bandrabuzz@gmail.com
EDITORIAL
Letters to the Editor RENAMING OF OUR STREETS TOI reported on 5th December, that "a lane adjoining the popular Mount Mary Road in Bandra will be named after Bimal Roy". The article, very cleverly, has not mentioned the name of the street to be renamed. This practice of patronising people from Bollywood, just for having had the financial firepower or good fortune to have lived in an area, is ridiculous. This is not the first instance of our streets being renamed after people associated with show business. In the not too distant past, there was a big hue and cry about renaming a street after the deceased child of a singer. Most of these people have done little, if anything, for the street or area where they have lived. All they have done is just that - lived there. What makes them so special, that we have to give up our age old street names & history, to pander to the film industry? Being a Bandraite (I prefer the term "Bandoran"), it is only a matter of time before we see one end of Bandstand renamed "Salman Khan Chowk", and the other end "Shah Rukh Khan Marg". I have placed a wager with a close friend that this will happen within our lifetime. Financial and political clout, which they have an abundance of, can rename just about anything these days. While most of us have nothing against people from the film industry, selling out our heritage and history to their names is insulting to the rest of us. So as we are about to lose another part of our history, once again this time to Bollywood, we ought to urge the politicians, elected officials and the BMC to stop kowtowing to “filmwallahs”, and preserve and protect our heritage and history. Hopefully, we shall not have to face the ignominy of having to live in Bollywoodistan, rather than Bandra, someday! Debasish Chakraverty
DECEMBER 2016 13
BANDRA BUZZ
DEMONETISING NOTES PM Modi's scrapping of 500 & 1000 rupee notes has set the cat among the pigeons. How quick his scheme will unearth black money, trace fake notes and put a stop to terror funding, only time will tell. But nonetheless his bold initiative to demonetise high denomination notes in an economy that is 86% run on cash, is commendable. No prime minister in India's history has ever tried to take such a risk to nail black marketeers and hoarders with one swipe of the sword. India must thank Modi for whatever he is doing because its for the good of the country. Corruption has become so endemic that without a bribe things do not move. In such a situation how do you expect India to progress and eradicate poverty even after 68 years of independence. There is not a single government office in the land that is free from the malice of corruption. The nexus between the official and the private enterprise is so deep rooted that any move to disturb its setup with disdain is looked upon by the political crass as being 'harmful to the common man'. That's the slogan of politicians who do not like Modi's way of snatching their bread and butter. Let's wait and watch how PM Modi tackles the next issue of 'benami properties'. Amar Singh
Email your letters to news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com
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.
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TURNING TOWARDS ‘THIRD GEAR’ Dear Reader, December spells the start of the build-up, which leads to the crescendo called Christmas and then New Year. And... Bandra, being an activity hub – is one of the most happening spot. Some people have an increased heartbeat, anticipating newer social alliances and the consequences that follow. Some slow down, with a ‘take-abreak’ attitude. Some just hang out and ‘go-with-the-flow. It is a ‘mad mix’. Yet, there is a method in all this madness. In view of the upcoming BMC Elections, road repairs & related work is going on at break neck speed. Politicians need visibility and they will do almost anything to get it. They craftily create situations, using key people, so that they come in as ‘Saviours’; in a set-up, that common citizens would want to vote for them. These days, closed door political meetings are on the increase – where ideologies are subtly brain-washing new party workers. Many switchovers are taking place, which will change the normally expected election re-
sults. ‘Community Traitors’ are slowly surfacing – and gullible citizens fall prey to their talks. Yes, Bandra is gradually turning towards third gear. This is prime time to get your surroundings spruced up for the New Year. After all, it is your tax money that pays for BMC work – cleverly called ‘MLA Fund’ or ‘Corporator’s Fund’. Many active ALM’s are alert to see that the contractors who do the jobs – do it well. Concerned citizens keep a constant watch, when the work is being done. This interactive supervision has resulted in better work done. If any BMC job has been shoddy – do report with proper proof. Bandra Buzz will publish your grievance – and you will get the name credit. Till next time, take care.
Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief
WE’RE TURNING
6
THIS DECEMBER Celebrating our 6th year this month has given us so much joy...to know share with you our story of how it all began....we never had it easy but somehow you writers photographers and advertisers make it happen each issue when we every had a doubt about going ahead there was that one person who somehow came across to share their talent with us and that my friends is the best part about running this community newspaper we have loved around 100+ stories and have been trying to improve the way we bring it to your home each issue...however with your help we are much stronger so we would encourage you all reading this newspaper to give us your thoughts about what you think is good as well as not so good and be our eyes and mouth to help us reach out more...this coming year and for many more to come we promise to keep all the communities connected always.... Call to book your ad space today 9820783686 / 9920299787
For more details, contact Lancy 9820291400
The Bandra Studio Potters Market
The Bandra Studio Potters market is an annual event which happens in Mumbai every year at the Vintage Garden, a beautiful heritage bungalow in Bandra, a culturally rich suburb of Mumbai. In its fourth edition, it will be held on the 17th and 18th December,2016. The market is a curated market and once again brings together over 20 of the top potters from around the country to come and showcase their craft and the chance for you to own them. Set in the lovely heritage bungalow, the market attracts the support of the whole city, as they come out to celebrate and enjoy the work of the attending artisans. People have a chance to interact with them, view and purchase their art, while also enjoying the demonstrations by local
potters at the market itself. The weekend sees Mumbaities come to browse and see the art and crafts, while enjoying the ambiance of the beautiful Vintage Garden. The venue comes alive, as the ambience is very festive and the happy chatter of the potters and the customers pervade throughout the space. Year on year, as the market grows and its participation expands, it becomes a hub for those who enjoy the market and love pottery to come and learn and share their ideas with the potters. The market is organised by a team of likeminded potters to create a platform for studio potters to connect with the community and showcase this art form and create awareness of handmade pottery. Sultana