Citygritty 8212; Pune

Riding HighThey're back, their success evident by the grins on their faces. The 14-member equestrian team of the Ajinkya Sanskritik Prati...

Riding High
They8217;re back, their success evident by the grins on their faces. The 14-member equestrian team of the Ajinkya Sanskritik Pratishthan has accomplished its mission of riding all the 1500 km from Pune to New Delhi, dot on its deadline of December 20. Right now, only the younger members of the team have returned home by train; the others are expected to reach the city by December 29, getting back the horses and other stuff. 8220;We had a line of receptions at the capital, at the bungalows of Sharad Pawar, Ram Naik, Kiran Bedi. We also met Pramod Mahajan, Sheila Dixit, Vasant Sathe, Sonia Gandhi. The highlight, of course, was meeting the Prime Minister,8221; says one of the members who8217;s back home. A pat on their backs!

Combined efforts
Group Arangetram, the brainchild of Guru Maniktai Ambike, is all set to take place at the Tilak Smarak Mandir on December 30. Five students from her Nrityangan Bhartnatyam Academy 8211; Ritu Kothari, Poonam Dardige, Shalaka Dharmapal, Rina Liman and Prajakta Rajpathak 8211; who have completed six years of her diploma course, will be making their first formal stage appearance together in an innovative form of Arangetram.

Ambike, a Bharatnatyam teacher for 20 years now, has blended modern aspects with a touch of the traditional. Her choreographed Marathi semi-classical songs are apt examples of this. The guest of honour for the occasion will be the well-known Kathak dancer Shama Bhate8230;

Extra fun!
The thing about Xmas is that most of the action happens on December 24. Midnight mass, partying and so on. So when 25th finally arrives, besides the traditional lunch, one is at a loose end. No wonder then that M.G. Road was choc-a-bloc with people that day.

There was laughter and cheerful whistling as music blared out of various eateries. And despite the cold night, ice-cream parlours were recording brisk sales. In fact, there were such crowds outside Marz-O-Rin that the ice-creams had to be held aloft to save it from being crushed, or hitting somebody8217;s shoulder. No wonder then that the auto-rickshaw drivers, ever-ready to cash in on any situation, hiked up their rates seeing the crowds. Most of those parked outside George Restaurant refused to ply the route unless they were paid twice the regular fare. But with everyone in great spirits, no one seemed to mind.

Remembering Rishi
Jazz Garden will be the venue of yet another musical evening this Monday but this one is a little different. Musicians from Pune and Mumbai will pay their tribute to Rishikesh Joseph, the Ezee Meat band drummer who died in an accident last year. The evening will feature bands like Ezee Meat, Airwave, Heavy Water from the city and Mumbai-based groups Om Grown and Gilgahaad8217;s Funkadelic Arcade. 8220;It will be an evening when all those dear to Rishi will get together,8221; says Jackie Panicker, bass guitarist, Ezee Meat.