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The
ideal time to travel to Mumbai is during the time of fairs and
festivals. Festivals brighten up this already bright and lively
city of Mumbai. Some of the major festivals celebrated with fun
and gaiety in Mumbai are Ganesh Chaturthi (late August-early
September), Navratri (October-November), Gokul Ashtami
(mid-August) Holi (mid-March), Diwali, Christmas, and Id-ul-Zuha
& Id-Ul-Fitr. Mumbai travel during the festivals of Diwali,
Ganesh Chaturthi can turn out to be a bright and colourful
experience.
 The
festival of lights - Diwali, is a great time to travel to
Mumbai. The moonless night is turned into the brightest night of
the year. The Marine Drive shines bright in the light of the
innumerable firecrackers. In the Banganga tank of Mumbai on the
auspicious occasion of Diwali is celebrated in a traditional
manner. The earthen lamps are floated in the waters. The
shimmering flames on the water create a picturesque sight.
Ganesh Chaturthi, the worship of the elephant-headed son of Lord
Shiva and Parvati, is widely celebrated in Mumbai. As Lord
Ganesha is considered to be the common avatar of both Lord Shiva
and Lord Vishnu, both the Hindu sects, the Shaivites and the
Vaishnavites, worship him.
Ganesh Chaturthi was initiated by the great Maratha ruler,
Chhattrapati Shivaji, to dissemniate culture and nationalism.
Later, it was given a new impetus by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar
Tilak to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the
British who had banned public assemblies. The festival infused
the Indians with a sense of unity and revived their patriotic
spirit. The event is now a colossal celebration and perhaps the
world's largest religion-inspired beach party. Processions from
all over Mumbai commandeer the city's already congested road
system riding on and walking beside trucks bearing the Ganapatis.
Loud speakers shriek from the truck cabs and processionals bang
drums and gongs while the orange-capped devotees on the back of
the trucks shower themselves and everyone in their wake with red
powder called gulal. On the day of the Chaturthi, the last of
the days dedicated to the elephant-headed god, thousands of
processions converge on the beaches of Mumbai to immerse the
holy idols in the sea. This immersion is accompanied by
drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing.
The Mumbai International Film Festival, held once in every two
year, is an occasion not to be missed. Held during the month of
February, the festival screens the best of short, documentary
and animation films at the Nehru Auditorium. Around the same
time of the year the artists can have a gala time at the
four-day long festival at the Elephanta Island. The annual event
has the cream of artists perform Indian classical music and
dance. |