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Explore Mumbai
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| ▪ Ganesh Chaturthi |
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It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Ganesha on the fourth day of Bhadra. The festival is so popular that in Mumbai the preparations begin months in advance. The Chaturthi is the last day wherein thousands of processions converge on the beaches of Mumbai to immerse the holy idols in the sea amidst the chanting of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" and "Ganpati bappa morya" the festival ends with please to Ganesha to return the next year. |
| ▪ Gudi Padava |
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The Maharashtran New Year's Day is celebrated in March/April, on the first day of Chaitra. It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing. People get up early and clean their houses, decorating them with intricate rangoli designs. A silk cloth is tied to a pole with a brass goblet or kalash atop it, which is supposed to drive away evil from the house. This is raised aloft and worshipped. |
| ▪ Holi |
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Holi is
celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year.
Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land,
Holi has several traditional links with legends. Holi announces the arrival
of spring and the passing of winter. Young and old alike are drenched with
colors. They also eat food laced with
bhang, an aphrodisiac that leaves one feeling light and happy.Usually people
burn the Holika tree on the eve of Holi. |
| ▪ Diwali |
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A family festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November). Deepawali or Diwali is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word Deepawali literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps). Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. |
| ▪ Dusserah |
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Dusserah, also known as Vijayadashmi, is celebrated on the tenth day some time in September / October. Rama destroyed Ravana on this day and hence it is celebrated as the day of victory. |
| ▪ Gurupurabs |
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Anniversaries associated with the lives of the Sikh Gurus are referred to as Gurpurabs (festivals). Of these the important ones are the birthdays of Guru Nanak and Guru Govind Singh and the martyrdom days of Guru Arjun Dev and Guru Teg Bahadur. |
