<h2>High stakes</h2>
<p>Workers carry out restoration work on the 159-year-old <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-bmc-floats-tender-for-maintenance-of-22-heritage-sites-along-with-fitzgerald-fountain-23584255" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Fitzgerald Fountain </a>near Metro Cinema, Dhobi Talao.</p>
<h2>The nutty newcomers</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/Squirrels_1794146369_s.jpg" alt="The rescued baby squirrels at the space (right) one of the squirrels is fed milk. Pics courtesy/Kavi Chourasia" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>The rescued baby squirrels at the space (right) one of the squirrels is fed milk. Pics courtesy/Kavi Chourasia</em></strong></p>
<p>Aside from being a cultural hub for artistes, Artisan Coterie in Malad is currently hosting three furry friends. Three baby squirrels have found refuge in the space after their nest fell from a neighbouring bougainvillaea. &ldquo;We spotted them lying on the ground. They are now part of the team, and we will feed and nurture them until they are ready to face the world,&rdquo; Kavi Chourasia and Prateek Verma told this diarist. If you drop by, be sure to say hello. The team is also inviting suggestions to name their new friends. Drop a line @artisancoterie.</p>
<h2>Striking a balance</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/Cyclists_1794146521_s.jpg" alt="Cyclists tuck into Diwali faral (right) after their ride. PICS COURTESY/Mira Bhayander Active Cyclists Group" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Cyclists tuck into Diwali faral (right) after their ride. PICS COURTESY/Mira Bhayander Active Cyclists Group</em></strong></p>
<p>Love for Diwali faral makes people cross great distances. Ask the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/vile-parle-accident-41-year-old-woman-dead-two-injured-after-electric-car-hits-motorcyclists-in-vile-parle-east-23635615" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">health-conscious cyclists</a> of the Mira Bhayander Active Cyclists group. A &lsquo;faral ride&rsquo; last weekend saw more than 30 cyclists ride 25 kilometres from Mira Road to Uttan, before huddling around a spread of sweets, savoury snacks, and dry fruits. &ldquo;It was our way of ringing in Diwali with fitness, friendship, and faral,&rdquo; a member told this diarist. Now that&rsquo;s one way to earn your festive season calories.</p>
<h2>The vidwaan&rsquo;s final taal</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/Sridhar_1794147018_s.jpg" alt="A dated photo of Sridhar Parathasarathy; (inset) Louiz Banks. Pics courtesy/Artiste&rsquo;s Instagram, Wikimedia Commons" /><br /><strong><em>A dated photo of Sridhar Parathasarathy; (inset) Louiz Banks. Pics courtesy/Artiste&rsquo;s Instagram, Wikimedia Commons</em></strong></p>
<p>The festive fervour in Hindustani and Carnatic music was dimmed with the sudden passing of mridangam vidwaan Sridhar Parthasarathy. The 54-year-old passed away after a Diwali concert in Pune on November 6. While he played alongside maestros, from Ustad Zakir Hussain to noted vocalists like Balamuralikrishna, Parthasarathy will be missed for his genial laughter. Vocalist Shankar Mahadevan recalled sharing jokes with him in his tribute. Composer Louiz Banks told this diarist, &ldquo;Sridhar was an integral part of my SILK group, which also featured Shankar Mahadevan, Sivamani and Karl Peters. Every time he saw me, he would greet me and immediately crack a joke. Our interactions would invariably begin with a hearty laugh.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Festive notes</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/Abhanga-Repost_1794147045_s.jpg" alt="A moment from a previous performance by Abhanga Repost. PIC COURTESY/artiste" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>A moment from a previous performance by Abhanga Repost. PIC COURTESY/artiste</em></strong></p>
<p>Diwali celebrations are often extravagant, but Abhanga Repost took audiences down a philosophical journey this year. Led by Swapnil Tarphe, the group will round up the second of their festive performances in Girgaon today. &ldquo;The shows are centred on the lesser known festive poetry by Marathi saints Tukaram, Dnyaneshwar, Eknath and Tukdoji,&rdquo; Tarphe told this diarist. The Girgaon performance, incidentally, holds special significance for the group since this is where they staged their first show nearly eight years ago.</p>

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