The historic precincts of Fort and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus transformed into a lively arena of adventure, teamwork and laughter last Saturday night as 140 participants across 32 teams competed in the XYZ Seniors Treasure Hunt 2026.

The excitement began at the selfie point near VT, where teams gathered with carefully crafted strategies. However, once the task sheets were handed out, meticulous planning quickly gave way to frantic action. Captains rushed to brief teammates before participants scattered across South Mumbai in pursuit of clues, challenges and hidden treasures.

The hunt tested ingenuity, observation and creativity. Participants were tasked with sourcing a variety of unusual items, including a one-rupee coin dated 2005 or earlier, a non-plastic straw, a BEST ticket with the minimum fare and even a bill amounting to exactly Rs.12. Teams also explored the city’s Parsi heritage by identifying streets in Fort named after Parsis.

Adding to the excitement were a series of entertaining video challenges. Participants performed original jingles outside vada pav stalls, recreated Mumbai local train announcements in four languages, persuaded strangers to join impromptu acts, sang “Chaiye Hume Zarthosthi” outside an Agiary and danced the Macarena on staircases across Fort.

A strict 10:00 pm reporting deadline at the iconic Asiatic Library heightened the pressure, with even a second’s delay resulting in disqualification. One of the evening’s most amusing moments involved a team that spent the entire 90-minute hunt completing tasks from only one side of the sheet, unaware there was a second page.

A 78-year-old participant emerged as an inspiration, matching the energy of competitors decades younger than her, earning admiration from all. As teams gathered on the steps of the Asiatic Library awaiting the results, the atmosphere turned festive, filled with laughter, storytelling and shared experiences. Whether competing for top honours or already disqualified, everyone celebrated together.

Team ‘Peshaan’s Angels’ (Zenia Bhumgara, Pearl Bhumgara, Peshaan Kerawalla and Firdaus Billimoria) were declared winners while Team ‘Fantastic 4’ (Pashangh Patel, Aryan Bomanji, Aryan Kanga and Sarosh Vasania) secured the runners-up position.

The XYZ Seniors Treasure Hunt proved to be a celebration of friendship, laughter and community spirit more than a test of speed or strategy with the loudest victory of the evening being the strengthening of bonds that keep our community united.