Mumbai has traditional, religious, state and national festivals organized and celebrated in the city, depicting one or more aspects of human life, relationships or ancient traditions. Many of these festivals such as, Dasara, Shivratri, Mohurrum, Christmas, Budha purnima etc., are celebrated nation wide. Some of the popular festivals are briefed below.

Banganga Festival

The Banganga Festival is a musical extravaganza organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in January at the atmospheric Banganga tank at Walkeshwar. Top artistes from around the country perform live classical music concerts and cultural enthusiasts attend the festival and feast the soul as well as the mind.

Elephanta Festival

The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These caves are located at a distance of 11-km from Mumbai. In February Elephanta Island comes to fervour as the site of the Elephanta Festival. Organized by MTDC, every year, renowned dancers and musicians perform outside the caves, beneath a star-studded sky, to a select and appreciative audience. Special launch services and catering arrangements are provided for visitors.

Gudhi Padava

Gudhi Padava is the Maharashtran New Year's Day celebrated on the first day of Chaitra(Mar-Apr). This day marks the start of the Hindu solar year. It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing. People get up early and clean their houses, decorating them with intricate rangoli designs. Bamboo staffs (gudhi) decorated with silk cloths and topped with a brass goblet or kalash are erected. These are supposed to drive away evil from the houses.

Baisakhi Festival

Displaying the true spirit of Punjab , Baisakhi Festival marks the arrival of the harvesting season. The month of Vaishakh which coincides with April and May is an enjoyable period of the year, especially in rural India . There is a sense of plenty immediately after the harvest and the weather is mild. It is at this time that many regions celebrate their New Year. Celebrated with great zest and revelry, it marks the harvest of the Rabi crop.

Baisakhi has a special meaning for the Sikhs. Guru Amar Das had first institutionalized Baisakhi in 1567 as one of the special days when all Sikhs would gather to receive the guru's blessings at Goindwal. On this day in 1699, their tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, organized the order of the Khalsa. He discontinued the tradition of Gurus in Sikhism by declaring the Granth Sahib to be the eternal Guru of all Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev was martyred by the Muslim rulers who, in barbaric cruelty, threw him alive into a cauldron of boiling oil, on this day.

Nariyal Poornima

Nariel Purnima or coconut day in August marks the end of the monsoons and is celebrated by Mumbai's fisher folk. Boats are painted, little oil lamps lit and set afloat amidst the waves and carried in the boats, and coconut are broken against their bows as an offering to the Sea God and the seas are set afloat with garlands of flowers as the new fishing season begins.

Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated on this day. On this day, sisters tie rakhi on the wrists of their brothers to protect them against evil influences. This is also the day set apart for Brahmins to change their sacred thread they wear.

Parsi New Year

Pateti in August is the Parsee New Year, significant because it was on this day that the Shahenshahi Zoroastrian community landed in India while migrating from Persia . The Parsees celebrate at the fire temple, and the community bonds are strengthened through feasts and the meeting of friends and relatives.

Ganesh festival in Mumbai

The elephants, when overjoyed, are in a habit of swaying sideways. Millions of Mumbaikars, followed by their fellow citizens at places like Pune, Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra in particular and also some parts of the country dotted by the Maharashtrian population will swell and sway in the finest mood of celebrations for the following full ten days.

Because, the great grand annual re-entry of Lord Ganapati (Ganesh) is scheduled to thomp on the 1st september, 2000. Over the generations, the Ganapati idols of Lalbaug in Mumbai and Dagdu Halwai near Sonya Maruti Chowk in Pune have always captured maximum attraction.

This year, with due consideration for the massive coastal silting taking place at the time of the immersion of thousands of Ganapati idols - small and big - on the day of Anant-Chaturdashi , i. e. the tenth day of the festival and also some other reasons (including ecology), an appeal has been extended to the public for metal idols instead of the clay ones. If coming into effect, this may take off the pomp and show of the immersion processions, which continue through the day and may also extend for the following day, as it always happens at Pune. On the other hand, it may also save some lives being lost.

This also is likely to raise the question of livelihood of many 'Murtikar's (Sculptors) who earn major chunk of their income by their lovely creations of the idols during such festivals. Gradually, if this appeal picks up its social acceptance, 'Vighnaharta' Ganesha (One who removes obstacles) may turn out to be 'Vighnakarta' (Creator of obstacles) for these Murtikars, who will be deprived of utilising their 'Siddhi' (Achievement of skill) in their artistry and also 'Riddhi' (Money or treasure) for their livelihood.

So, Lord Ganapati has to find his way to maintain the faith in the hearts of these endangered small souls. We are sure, He will do it...

Bandra Feast

The feast day of Virgin Mary is celebrated in Bombay for a week beginning on a Sunday closest to the birthday of the Virgin Mary (Sep 8). The feast is held at the Basillica of Mount Mary in Bandra. A fair is held with huge Ferris wheels, amusements and rides, bands and shows. The devout trudges up the stairs of the church to light their candles.

Diwali

Diwali, celebrated on the 13th day of the month of Ashwin (Oct-Nov), is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. The goddess Lakshmi who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day. This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Crackers and fireworks illuminate the sky and people pray for a prosperous coming year.