Festivals in Mumbai

With a wide range of communities and castes residing in the city; Mumbai celebrates every festival with equal gusto. Right from Diwali and Holi to Pateti and from X Mass to Id- Ul- Fitr; every festival is celebrated in its true spirit thus reinforcing a multicultural and multiethnic nature of the city. Despite the zeal that Mumbaites show in every festival, the stock of fervor is renewed for Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival that has become synonymous with the city. Annually celebrated in August or September, this 10 day long festival is an excuse for sheer enjoyment. The immersion of larger than life idols of Lord Ganesha into the sea marks the culmination of this festivity. These idols are taken out in huge processions with incessant chants of "Ganpati Bappa Moreya." Colloquially known as 'Visarjan' this submersion of the idols into the sea, presents quite a spectacle especially on Chowpatty beach.

Held in March or April every year, Gudi Padva or the Maharashtrian New Year is also celebrated with an equal zeal. Marking the beginning of the Hindu Solar Year, this featival is dedicated to a potter's son named Sahalivan who is known for overthrowing the Gupta Dynasty of Malwa.

The shrill sounds of 'Govinda Ala Re' will fill your ears if you visit the city during Janmashtami that is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. Very popular amongst the youth of the city, this festival observes clay pots full of curd, butter and coins are suspended on ropes across the city streets.

This tradition is followed in sync with the extraordinary weakness of Lord Krishna for curd and butter. It is believed that the Lord could go to any extent to steal these. That practice is followed till date in the form of breaking this Dahi- Handi. To test the skill of young boys, these earthen pots full of curd are suspended to a great height. Young men form human pyramids to break these clay pots and they get cash as reward. The highest pot this year was suspended at 40 feet and the winner team was to be awarded a sum total of Rs. 11 lakhs.

Home to a huge Parsi population, the Persian New Year is also observed with huge fanfare at Mumbai. Popularly known as Pateti, this annual festival falls in august every year. It also marks the stepping in of the Royal Zoroastrian community in India while migrating to Persia.

Besides the festivals listed here Maharashtra Tourism also keeps organizing various festivals of tourist interest that come as an excuse to celebrate the glorious architectural heritage of the region. The Elephanta and Ellora festivals held at these caves is one such festival that brings a number of renowned classical vocal artists from all over the country together for illuminating these caves.