Entering the park near the Shivaji Park seashore for an evening stroll, I was pleasantly surprised to hear someone singing. Up ahead, quite a few people were sitting listening to the music and songs being played by a small band of musicians. Spotting a board nearby, I walked over to it. It talked about programs that were going to be held this month at various places in Mumbai - like Bandra Band Stand and Horniman Circle for example - in an effort to promote the Band Stand culture.

Though the decibel level was a bit high for my taste at some moments, the experience felt like a breath of fresh air. Normally, you see people running about in this city, trying to meet the deadline, always in a hurry to reach someplace, harassed by heat and traffic, stressed and tired. These people were relaxed, enjoying the songs and cheering the singers and musicians.

We definitely need more of this in this city. And being a foodie, I think that this concept can be taken to a new level by adding food to the music. I know this city suffers from perennial space crunch that is getting worse by the minute. But maybe someone can take an initiative and turn a corner of the city into a weekend Eat Street where amateur chefs can put up stalls and people can turn up to buy and sample their food.

Maybe we Mumbaikars need to be reminded that there is more to life than chasing deadlines.