When Juhu Reads started in May 2023 -- the first in Mumbai at the time, Diya Sengupta started it with her former co-curator Rachna Malhotra, for the love of books, but didn't think she would get to 100 sessions over time. Today, she and her co-curators Shristhi Khanna, Prashant Pundir and Shishir Bangera have reached the milestone after a rollercoaster ride that has seen number of readers increasing and decreasing but through it all, they have always conducted the session even if it is one person but have had as many as 60 people come together to read silently

Along the way, they have not only completed so many sessions sitting at Kaifi Azmi Park in Juhu every Saturday from 5 pm - 7 pm inviting readers from all over to join them. While there are people who come from Powai and Navi Mumbai, she says Juhu makes for the ideal central location in the city, and held at the right time, allowing people to engage, and then relax on Sundays at home

Apart from Juhu Reads, Bandra Reads that started out a month later with Amie Fazulbhoy and Anca Florescu Abraham as co-curators, has also thrived in the same time. They not only completed their 96th session recently but are also on the way to 100, and even celebrating their second anniversary on June 15. They started out by meeting for sessions on Sundays between 8:30 am – 11:30 am but often face challenges from park authorities who are suspicious of their activities. While they have had as many as 60-70 people during their sessions, they still get about 25-50 regularly, depending on the weather

Today, Fazulbhoy who runs it with co-curator Abhimanyu Lodha, says now the group is left to themselves, and they even have their own smaller gatherings among the bigger setting. Interestingly, the silent reading community has even extended to the formation of a book club called 'Books & Banter', showcasing how every one of the Reads chapters, inspired by Cubbon Reads in Bengaluru, and around the world, are thriving in the city

While SoBo Reads didn't survive the test of time, SGNP Reads in Borivali continues to meet on Sunday between 11 am - 1 pm, most recently completing their 87th session. Amanda D'Souza, who is the co-curator along with Sachin Shanbhag believes the community has grown over time. Even if there are 15 readers now, they have seen as many as 47 readers on one occasion, and even 94 when school children joined them to read in January

More than that, D'Souza says the Reads chapter named after Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where the session takes place, also gives people the opportunity to enjoy nature to the fullest while reading. They not only get to sit by the serene Dahisar river but also see deer, cormorants, monkeys and even dogs, that keep them company while reading. The micro-climate, which is unlike any other location in the city, makes even better for people to spend their Sunday mornings. 

Juhu Reads, Bandra Reads and SGNP Reads being among the first, the city has also seen Versova Reads, Lower Parel Reads and Powai Reads among other chapters sprout over time indicating Mumbai's thriving reading culture beyond homes