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Ganesh Chaturthi
The most important festival in Mumbai is Ganesh Chaturthi, in honour of Lord
Ganesh. Celebrated in the month of August/September, it is the birthday of Ganesh
- the elephant headed son of Shiva and Parvathi. Ganesh is believed to remove
all obstacles to success and bring good luck and prosperity and keeps natural
calamities at bay in the lives of those who worship him. This ten day festival
begins with the installation of the deity, who is then worshipped daily till the
immersion on the final day. Small Ganesh idols are installed in homes. Some idols
tower up to 10m high and weigh several tonnes. On the tenth day, processions fill
the streets and with the accompaniment of drumbeats and music, the image of Ganesh
is immersed in the water. Devotees chant 'Ganapati Bappa Morya' which means Ganesh,
Daddy, please come back soon next year. Read
more..
Bandra Fair (September)
The feast day of the Virgin Mary is celebrated by Christians at the Basillica
of Mount Mary in Bandra.
Dussehra /Navaratri(September/October)
Dussehra which is the celebration of good over evil is an auspicious day
for new ventures. Tools of trade, vehicles and machinery are worshipped on this
day. Celebrated 21 days after Dussehra, it marks the return of Lord Rama (Hero
of the epic Ramayana) to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. It is a festival of
lights and mark the end of one commercial year and the beginning of another.
Homes are decorated with oil lamps. Mumbai's Navaratri
celebrations are focused on the Mahalaxmi temple at Breach Candy. Read more
about Dussehra
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Diwali (October/November)
The five day festival of light celebrates Rama's retunrrn home from exile.
Marine drive is the most raucous place to celebrate Diwali and Banganga Tank
where oil lamps are floated on the water is the most atmospheric. Diwali is
also celebrated by the Jains as New Year's Day. Read more about
Diwali
Christmas / New Year's Eve (December)
It is another big celebration in Mumbai. The Christian populated areas
such as Colaba, Bandra and Mazagaon streets are decorated with stars and fairy
lights. Santa Clause makes a guest appearance in shops, people gather at restaurants
and thousands attend the midnight Mass. Read
more..
Kala Khoda Festival and Fair
A two week cultural festival includes art exhibitions, workshops, lectures,
music, film screenings and guided walks. It is a celebration of arts and
crafts. It includes performing arts, street entertainers, portrait painting,
palm reading, henna designs, pottery making, weaving, puppetry, handicrafts
and food stalls, and the chance to have your name written on a grain of rice.
Kala Khoda Association
C/o A.T.E. Enterprises Pvt Ltd
4th Floor Dr.V.B.Gandhi Marg Fort
Mumbai -400023
Phone: 022-56055034
Fax: 022-22885972
E-mail: Contact
Us
Banganga Festival
Banganga Festival is a two-day long heritage music festival held at the
precincts of the Banganga Tank, a part of the complex of temples at Walkeshwar
in Mumbai. The festival, which
began in 1992, has a fascinating legend behind it. The name 'Banaganga' symbolizes
the belief that, when Hindu Lord Rama, shot a Bana (arrow), the holy Ganges (Ganga) sent
back fresh waters to quench the thirst of her followers.
An annual musical extravaganza, the event is usually held in
the second week of January and stages performances by eminent Indian classical
musicians. This heritage festival held
to promote and attract crowds to landmark sites of the city, especially temples
dating back to 6th century B.C., aims to create awareness about conserving heritage
sites. Organised jointly by the Indian Heritage Society and Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation (MTDC), the festival also aims to attract foreign tourists
apart from the domestic crowd. The stage for the festival is erected in the
middle of the tank filled with holy water, and the seating is on the stone steps
around the13th century temple complex.
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Elephanta Festival
Elephanta, a small island 10kms away from the Mumbai harbour, is a favoured
destination for culture lovers during the festival held in February. The Elephanta
island is known for its great cave shrine, excavated in the 6th century. Read
more..
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