Walking Around Matunga

One Matunga – Fun and Games on the streets….

Currently if you walk around Matunga you are likely to see lots construction activities , with a lot of the old  building being redeveloped into high rises . As result not just the bylanes but the main arterial road that is Dr.Ambedkar Road running from King Circle to Dadar TT being taken over by dumpers , trucks carrying construction debris , at the same time local BMC ward office taking up projects for water line extension and waste & sanitation line repairs. Most of the road is dug up and people residing here have to literally hop and jump to cross the road. All this is also adding to the traffic congestion in the area. Its becoming difficult for the senior citizens and children to walk , and sometimes I think if not careful someone would get gravely injured. Hope this chaos ends soon.

Among this chaos we had a brilliant initiative taken up by the One Matunga a local forum addressing local issues. The organizers are band of young and old residents of Matunga who have come together to form a pressure group to take up local issues with the local authorities be it the BMC or the police. With the support of these very local authorities they organized an equal streets program last year around same time to get physical activitivies and games back into the lives of the children in Matunga.

So today on a Sunday morning I along with Netra went out to check this festival on the streets of Matunga. As part of the program the organizers had cordoned off a part of the Dr.Ambedkar Road from Ruia College to King Circle with neatly arranged barricades and ropes. Starting near the Ruia Signal you had Adventure and Games zone. Kutch Trekkers – A trekking and adventure sport company had built a huge tower and a ropeway on which the kids with propoer safety harnesses could glide down to the other end where their volunteers caught the little ones and brought them down. Most of the kids were first timers and were thoroughly enjoying their little adventure. For the smaller kids they had bult a rope bridge between two trees and kept a stool to climb. Once on the bridge the kids had to balance and walk the length of the brigde to the other end where again their volunteers brought them down. The onlooking parents were feeling proud of these tiny tots as they crossed the bridge and cheered for them.

In the same zone they had put a football net and urged the kids and their parents alike to give a go at hitting the Football in the net. What fun. Then there was the box cricket organized near by with rule of underarm cricket , no hitting sixes or four but just tapping the ball bowled by the bowler at the other end and staying at the wicket as long as you can. On the footpath next to this were kept carom boards and chess for the kids to explore.

As we moved ahead we came across stalls set up by local activity centers / pre-schools / entrepreneurs with various fun and games for the kids and toddlers. Some of the stalls had organized drawing and painting with neat worksheets and art supplies given to the kids to paint. You had the option of colouring with wax crayons or with water colurs. I stood besides Netra who picked up a worksheet and started colouring with wax crayons. She was lost in her world for those 15-20 minutes , vigorously filling each detail with bright colours – pinks, blues , yellows and orange. The drawing was coming alive. And I was mesmerized at the colour scheme she chose. Once finished we took a snap on the mobile recording this memory for a lifetime. We moved to the next stall set up by Chinmaya Mission – Education through values. They were promoting their up-coming residential summer camp just outside Mumbai . Where the older kids either alone or accompanied by their Mums can have a few days of bonding and also enjoy some summer activities along with discourses on Indian mythology and culture. They gave some worksheets like word search activity and coloring pictures of Gods and labeling the weapons and other articles seen in their hands.

Some stalls were put up by group of teachers taking up activities like Origami (Art of paper folding ), Caligraphy (Art of writing) . A stall belonging to MADCAPS – the party shop a new entrant to the Matunga skyline had put a stall with volunteer making funny animals using balloons . Kids were thronging to this stall to collect colorful balloons . As part of promotion they were giving information of how you can get almost anything needed to throw that perfect birthday party for your child. With caps , shiny balloons, party masks and return gift items.

In between the stalls was a potter making small pots and diyas on his wheel . A group of kids was watching him make these pots , some of them wanted to try their hand at pot making and requested him if they could try it. He gladly showed them how to shape the wet clay into beautiful pots and diyas. Looking at this sight I thought how similar was this to molding these minds by exposing them to various cultures , activities and environments. Moving ahead we saw some live performances of dance  by small kids and their teachers on a make shift stage made by Purple Grape Dance Academy. Such grace and enthralling moves even I felt like joining them and having some fun. But I am no dancer more like a person with 2 left shoes. So we just watched them perform and gave them a hearty clap once over. 

A little ahead the organizers had marked an area for Desi Games. Few girls were trying their hand at Hopscotch , throwing a ticker on the ground then hopping on the asymmetric design made on the road. Looking at the fun these girls were having even their mummies couldn’t resist joining in the fun. What followed was laughter fun and frolic. Just next to this a tug-of war was going on between two teams of boys and girls pulling at a long rope. A referee was judging the contest. We wandered further . A group of kids were playing langdi – folding one leg and hopping to catch their friends. Some couldn’t balance and had to touch their leg on the ground ,the others shouting …out out out….

We moved ahead to live demonstration of Judo by girls in the locality under the observant of their master from Poddar Judo Club. With good and experienced faculty this Judo club in the premises of Poddar Commerce college conducts classes twice weekly. Teaching the kids  concentration and bringing out the inner strength to defeat any anomalies that they may face in life.

A few steps ahead were food stalls put up by locals . Some yummy delights like Somosa Pav , Sev Puri , Pani Puri. A stall had healthy pita bread sandwiches stuffed with paneer and veggies. The smell of these goodies made our mouths water. Just ahead was a stall put up by La Baker , where their cup cakes , brownies and protein granola bars were selling like hot stuff.

We Walked ahead to the signature board put by One Matunga for recording the messages of all who came to enjoy this street festival. Both me and Netra wrote our messages. And called it a day , heading back home with lots of great memories and a day well spent ….