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Mumbai, Thane record highest rain in State

Today, June 10, has been the wettest day for Mumbai’s suburbs and city, and Thane district, than all of Maharashtra.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The rains reached Mumbai and Thane three days before expected time this year, on June 7. Before the monsoon started here in earnest, it lashed Pune, Ratnagiri and the State’s drought-prone regions.

Today, however, as Mumbai and Thane woke up to dark skies and sheets of rain that threatened to never stop pouring, the rest of Maharashtra was spared the battering. As per figures from the Revenue and Finance Department, Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai suburbs, Mumbai city and Thane recorded the highest rainfall figures in the State.

As per Government figures, Mumbai suburbs recorded 90.40 mm rainfall, while Mumbai city clocked in 81.10 mm. Meanwhile, Thane experienced the most amount of rain in the State today – 150.02 mm of rainfall.

The only other district to record high rainfall figures today, apart from these three, was Ratnagiri, which recorded 108.31 mm of rainfall.

In Mumbai and Thane, commuters experienced the usual troubles that are now synonymous with monsoon here – incredible road traffic, water logging at the usual low-lying spots, and train schedules thrown off kilter. There were numerous complaints of autorickshaws and cabs refusing to ply short distances.

Keep these numbers handy this monsoon:

BMC disaster control room: 108, 1916

MMRDA control room to report flooding: 022- 26591241 /26594176/8080705051

Mumbai Fire Brigade: 022-23076111

Autorichshaw and taxi complaint helpline: 1800220110

(Picture courtesy dnaindia.com) 

Categories
Event

Elephanta Festival kicks off over the weekend

The theme for the noted musical fest combines Hindustani classical music with western fusion, and invites amateur painters as well.

This unique music and art festival was shifted from its excellent location two years ago, but it is back where it truly belongs. The Elephanta Festival 2013 kicks off at the Elephanta Caves on Saturday, March 2 and ends the next day. As always, stalwarts in music comprise the lineup of performers at the fest this time around, too.

Organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the fest will be officially announced by State Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal tomorrow. This year’s edition of the Elephanta Festival will witness performances in both Hindustani classical and Western fusion music.

Dr Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, MTDC, says, “While the festival will include some of the best performers from across the globe, the theme will retain its objective to promote Indian culture and expose it to the world and the nation. The participation by international artists in Indian art forms will position the festival as a leader in promoting Indian heritage not only in the State, but across the nation and in the international circuit, putting the Elephanta Festival on the international tourism map.”

The fest also invites professional as well as amateur painters irrespective of age and experience to attend the event. Organised in association with the JJ School of Art, the theme of the painting competition is to paint the Elephanta caves and statues at the location on both days from 10 am to 2 pm. “The art materials would have to be carried by the participants, and they have to register at the venue and submit the entry at the location itself,” says Dr Patil. The top three prizes comprise cash amounts of Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

For history and heritage enthusiasts, there are  guided tours of the Elephanta caves under the guidance of Dr GB Deglurkar, President, Deccan College, who will share his knowledge on the detailing of the sculptures and caves of Elephanta Island. Also, noted artist Chandrajit Yadav will replicate the cave sculptures in mud during the Festival.

Line up of artistes slated to perform:

March 2, 2013, Day 1:

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Shweta Pandit (opening ceremony with Saraswati Vandana)

7:30 pm – 8:15 pm: Sannidhi, confluence of seven Indian Classical Dance Performances by Parvathy Dutta

8:45 pm – 10:00 pm: Vishnamo, Shujaat Khan (Sitar and vocals); V Selvaganesh (Kanjira); Ganesh and Kumaresh (Violin); George Brooks (Saxophone)

March 3, 2013, Day 2:

7:00 pm – 7:45pm: Prabhakar Karekar, Hindustani classical vocals

8:00 pm – 8:45 pm: Manjari Chaturvedi, Sufi Kathak; Awadh Gharana musicians

9:00 pm – 10 pm: Ranjit Barot (Drums); Punya Srinivas (Veena); Elie Afif (Upright and electric bass); Harmeet Manseta (Keyboards); Aditya Benia (Guitar)

(Picture courtesy meriyatrra.com. Image is a file picture)

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