German summer beckons racecourse

The Indian derby may have ended last week but the racing excitement is still not over.

Racing carnival to be hosted at the Mahalaxmi Race Course this weekend

The Indian derby may have ended last week but the racing excitement is still not over. The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) has teamed up with the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) to bring the German summer fest and racing carnival to avid-for-excitement Mumbaikars. So if you want to beat the heat and boredom by glugging down some cold German beer as you watch sweaty horses race it out,head for the Mahalaxmi Race Course this weekend.

Vivek Jain,chairman of marketing,RWITC,says that the idea is to bring a bit of Germany to the racecourse. As for the hardcore racing enthusiasts theres plenty of racing action as well. There will be 16 races spread out over the weekend seven on Saturday and nine on Sunday. The races on the second day are all sponsored by the IGCC.

For Peter Deubet,deputy director general of the IGCC,its all about bringing Germany closer to India. We want to give people in Mumbai a taste of what Germany feels like, he explains. But as he says,its not just about horses and racing. We also wanted to do something for the children in Mumbai. This is a city where areas of recreation for children are very restricted. So this weekend,were going to have a carnival with activities like tattoo painting,puppet show and magic show. There will also be workshops on various activities,from painting a plate that you can gift to your beloved one to learning how to recycle by painting on empty beer bottles.

Of course,all fests should have their own gastronomical delights and at the German Summer fest one can expect a host of Teutonic delicacies. Were of course bringing three different kinds of beer from Germany and a special kind of beer called Wheat Beer. There will also be wine from our countrys best wine-producing region Rhineland. And for food,there is quite a large variety. We Germans love sausages of different kind. So theyll be there and there will be German potato salad and also some snacks like Brezels,which are like salty cookies, says Deubet.

The IGCC and the RWITC have also invited various NGOs like the National Association for the Blind,Bombay Natural History Society and Eco Corner to set up stalls and workshops at the racecourse. Deubet says,Were very proud to associate ourselves with these NGOs. We wanted to offer them a platform on which they can continue to carry on their good work. The proceeds from the fest will be equally divided among them.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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