<h2>Bridge of light</h2>
The festive light installation at Bandra Reclamation casts a glimmer on the still waters as viewed from Mahim Reti Bunder
<h2>A star descends on Kerala</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Sunits-Williams_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
The <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/from-jenny-erpenbeck-to-paul-lynch-at-kerala-literature-festival-2025-six-booker-prize-winners-will-be-present-for-the-first-time-23462175" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kerala Literature Festival</a> (KLF) scheduled to be held at Kozhikode between January 22 to 25 has announced the participation of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams (below) as a key speaker. The festival is set to bring together influential voices from literature, art, science, culture, and public life. At KLF 2026, Williams is expected to reflect on her journeys beyond earth and speak about science, exploration, leadership, resilience, and human curiosity. The festival will host over 500 speakers from across the world, with Germany nominated as the guest nation for this year&rsquo;s edition. The festival&rsquo;s speaker line-up includes Nobel Laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah, Abhijit Banerjee, Olympian Ben Johnson, business leader Indra Nooyi, artist and illustrator Cheyenne Olivier, writer Gabriela Ybarra, economist Arvind Subramanian, linguist and author Peggy Mohan, and author and columnist Shobhaa De, among others. Ravi DeeCee, managing director of DC Books and chief facilitator of the festival, said, &ldquo;Kerala Literature Festival has consistently expanded its vision to include science, discovery, leadership, and the human spirit. Sunita Williams represents the courage to explore the unknown and the discipline required to stretch human boundaries. She has also been a well-wisher [of the festival], which makes her presence at the festival especially meaningful as it will inspire audiences across generations.&rdquo;
<h2>It&rsquo;s apple season</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Love-bombs-apples_e.jpg" alt="A scene from Love, Bombs and Apples by Hassan Abdulrazzak. Pic courtesy/Youtube" width="1280" height="720" /> A scene from Love, Bombs and Apples by Hassan Abdulrazzak. Pic courtesy/Youtube
There is a wind from the Middle-East blowing into the city, come January. After Ahmed Tobasi&rsquo;s rendition of And Here I Am in November, playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak&rsquo;s Love, Bombs and Apples will find its way to the stage on Janaury 13 under Akvarious Productions. &ldquo;It is a revival of the production that we had performed earlier. It is a searing, contextual, and deeply human work that is just as humorous.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Hassan-Abdulrazzak_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
We had acquired the rights to the work a little while ago, and it was only right to bring it back in the new year,&rdquo; shared theatremaker Adhaar Khurana (inset). The comedy tells the story of three men from different parts of the globe arriving at their epiphany through hilarious circumstances, shared by Khurana. The play will also feature Siddharth Kumar, Chaitnya Sharma and Kashin Shetty, the production will be helmed by Akarsh Khurana.
<h2>Stamped and delivered</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/MCA-stamp_e.jpg" alt="The MCA-Wankhade Stadium stamp sheet. Pic/By Special Arragement" width="1280" height="720" /> The MCA-Wankhade Stadium stamp sheet. Pic/By Special Arragement
Among the several Facebook respondents to Sunday mid-day&rsquo;s December 21 feature on cricket stamps was Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik (above). The young administrator appeared a touch disappointed not to see an image of his association&rsquo;s stamp (released earlier in the year to mark 50 years of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/photo/from-50th-anniversay-to-lionel-messi-visit-here-are-wankhede-stadium-top-moments-in-2025-108828/5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Wankhede Stadium</a>) on the page.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Ajinkya-Naik_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
&ldquo;The Wankhede stadium stamp is missing,&rdquo; Naik stated in the Facebook comments section, and he was right. The writer, who had mentioned the Wankhede stamp in his piece, pointed out that he didn&rsquo;t possess said stamp, so Naik decided to not only send over the stamp, but also the whole folder which had a stamp sheet and more. Now, that&rsquo;s a gesture stamped with sweetness!
<h2>Pride on the pitch</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Gaysi-cricket_e.jpg" alt="A previous edition of Queer Premier League held in Bandra earlier this year. PIC courtesy/Saksshie Juneja" width="1280" height="720" /> A previous edition of Queer Premier League held in Bandra earlier this year. PIC courtesy/Saksshie Juneja
The Gaysi Family, in collaboration with Umang Support Group for LBT, The Humsafar Trust, and Mumbai Queer Pride, is all set to host the Queer Premier League on January 11 at SportingLions Turf in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mid-day-impact-skid-trap-at-mumbai-s-bandra-junction-removed-23609822?technology-article-breakingnews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bandra</a>. The box cricket tournament will be an inclusive sporting space for the queer community, while raising funds for Mumbai Queer Pride scheduled to be held in February. &nbsp;Saksshie Juneja, founder of Gaysi Family explained, &ldquo;The initiative challenges the unwelcoming exclusion queer people often face in sports, adding that pride belongs on the pitch too &mdash; centred and rooted in joy, access, and participation rather than performance.&rdquo;
<h2>All eyes on the sky, please</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Kid-telescope_e.jpg" alt="A boy looks through the telescope" width="1280" height="720" /> A boy looks through the telescope
A group of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbaikars-will-firmly-stand-behind-mahayuti-in-bmc-elections-2026-maharashtra-cm-devendra-fadnavis-23609894" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mumbaikars</a> will kick off their New Year by looking at the stars from an educational perspective at the Nehru Science Centre. They will be part of The Sky Observation programme offering an immersive learning experience for anyone above the age of five.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Sun-spots_e.jpg" alt="An image of the sun" width="1280" height="720" /> An image of the sun
The programme will feature four curated segments designed to introduce participants to astronomy. Sheetal Chopde, educational assistant at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/on-a-nuclear-power-trip-23506064?button=next" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nehru Science Centre</a>, shared, &ldquo;Participants will begin with a viewing of sunspots through a telescope. This is followed by a curated show titled Science of the Sphere that introduces attendees to the solar system.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/NSC-info_e.jpg" alt="Attendees gather on the terrace for the talk on How to Observe the Sky. Pics courtesy/Nehru Science Centre" width="1280" height="720" /> Attendees gather on the terrace for the talk on How to Observe the Sky. Pics courtesy/Nehru Science Centre
The third segment includes a talk on the Moon and the journey of the stars, along with guidance on how to observe the sky. The programme will conclude with the Centre&rsquo;s flagship activity &mdash; observing Saturn after sunset, around 7 pm.&rdquo;

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will speak at Kerala Literature Festival 2026 in Kozhikode, inspiring audiences with stories of exploration and resilience

Mumbai Diary | Wednesday Dossier: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams to speak at Kerala Literature Festival 2026

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Bridge of light

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