<h2>Light of the world</h2>
Women carrying lights march during a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/photo/in-photos-mumbais-chaityabhoomi-glows-with-one-lakh-lamps-on-buddha-purnima-2026-110897" rel="nofollow">Buddha Purnima </a>procession at Kurla West.&nbsp;
<h2>Of shared stories and more</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Makarand-Deshpande_e.jpg" alt="Makarand Deshpande at a previous exchange" width="1280" height="720" /> Makarand Deshpande at a previous exchange
The Kitaab Exchange Mela, held on May 3 at Third Bell Studios felt easy and unhurried, with books quietly changing hands through the day. Visitors placed their own reads on a common table and picked up others, creating a simple, trust-led exchange.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Yahya-Bootwala_e.jpg" alt="Yahya Bootwala. Pics Courtesy/Third Bell Studios; @yahyabootwala" width="1280" height="720" /> Yahya Bootwala. Pics Courtesy/Third Bell Studios; @yahyabootwala
Around this, poetry, storytelling and music unfolded, with voices like Divya Dubey and Yahya Bootwala upping the tempo. &ldquo;We wanted the exchange to stay open and simple,&rdquo; said Aishwarya Rajan, the event&rsquo;s chief operating officer, adding that such formats will continue alongside their plan of hosting monthly fleas with curated cultural prog-ramming.&nbsp;
<h2>Meet the OG tick-tockers of Mumbai</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Watch-exhibit_e.jpg" alt="Visitors browse the collection of watches during a meet-up in Mahim. Pics Courtesy/The Revolver Club" width="1280" height="720" /> Visitors browse the collection of watches during a meet-up in Mahim. Pics Courtesy/The Revolver Club
Retro was in vogue at Mahim this past Sunday, as analogue watch enthusiasts thronged to the HMT meet-up organised by The Revolver Club. For generations, the watchmaker was known as the &lsquo;Timekeeper to the Nation&rsquo;. &ldquo;In January, HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) filed an application to officially strike off its wholly owned subsidiary, HMT Watches Limited, on January 5, 2026, marking the final closure of the iconic, state-owned watchmaking entity.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Watch-a_e.jpg" alt="HMT Jawan Military, HMT Janata Notebook and HMT Sherpa" width="1280" height="720" /> HMT Jawan Military, HMT Janata Notebook and HMT Sherpa
This is the year HMT officially shut down forever,&rdquo; shared illustrator, and organiser, Mihir Lapalikar. As a last hurrah, collectors met up with their precious accessory to show, with over 100 rare pieces making an appearance. &ldquo;It [HMT] is a special name for collectors. Also, the club has a really extensive collection of HMTs out there such as the rare Sherpa, or the nostalgic Janata pieces that we wanted to showcase,&rdquo; he told us.
<h2>Sounds from raaga to rap</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Hruday-Satam_e.jpg" alt="Hruday Satam" width="1280" height="720" /> Hruday Satam
Hruday Satam seems to have made the most of his classical music training when he stepped into the gritty world of rap. The 23-year-old rapper, who hails from <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-thane-launches-first-electric-double-decker-bus-eknath-shinde-flags-off-takes-ride-23628312" rel="nofollow">Vashi</a>, is currently working on Hyper Yakshini, the third part of his album trilogy. He described it as having, &ldquo;a very Gen Z rage and a hyper-pop sound that draws from the US underground scene, fused with Marathi lyrics and classical compositions.&rdquo; What draws a young man trained in Hindustani classical to rap? Satam shared, &ldquo;There is a strong influence of hip-hop culture brewing in this neighbourhood, and my involvement in musical theatre in college led to the creation of this unique fusion of sounds.&rdquo; One of these influences is Marathi Natya Sangeet. &ldquo;It is a key part of the upcoming album. We shall be ready to launch it by the end of this month,&rdquo; he revealed to this diarist.&nbsp;
<h2>Mumbai is the best</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Jetlag-Warriors-CSMT_e.jpg" alt="A moment from the travelogue at CSMT. Pic Courtesy/Jetlag Warriors on YouTube" width="1280" height="720" /> A moment from the travelogue at CSMT. &nbsp;Pic Courtesy/Jetlag Warriors on YouTube
IF you put a Mumbaikar and a Delhite in the same room, the debate would most likely centre on the better city. However, Steve from JetLag Warriors, a Canadian-Indonesian YouTuber backs Mumbai. Currently touring the city with his family, he used his travel vlog to declare, &ldquo;Mumbai is the best city for a tourist,&rdquo; adding that in Delhi he was swamped by auto drivers, which felt uncomfortable. He praised <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/photo/in-photos-summer-rush-swells-crowds-in-general-coaches-at-mumbais-csmt-110932" rel="nofollow">CSMT </a>(formerly VT) as among the nicest architecture he has seen, and concluded, &ldquo;In Mumbai, I feel like I&rsquo;m a fly on the wall in a totally different city.&rdquo;

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

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