The Mumbai Festival - 17th Jan to 3rd Feb 2008
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the whole universe is thy family).
Now in its fourth year, this cultural festival held in Mumbai or Bombay has grown in ambition and size, and aims to draw international tourists who might otherwise have whizzed through Mumbai to destinations such as Goa or Kerala. It starts with a concert of Indian classical dance and music at the Gateway of India, and continues with events that include films, theatre, food, fashion, shopping and a Bollywood night. This year the international focus is on Japan, with a festival of films by Kenji Mizoguchi and a Japanese adaptation of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters”.
The Mumbai Festival, launched in 2005, was the first attempt to develop a community based festival for Mumbai or Bombay, India. It is a unique model of public private partnership under which NGO’s, Private parties, Government and related Authorities work cohesively.
The festival is evolving in nature. It is not designed by any one person, the entire city contributes to the event(s). Anyone can develop and organize an event on due approval by the Mumbai Festival Committee (MFC).
Mumbai or Bombay, India’s commercial and entertainment capital, has an impact on the people who live here, their sense of place, identity and values. The Mumbai Festival aims to help keep the citizens of Mumbai or Bombay feeling positive about where they live tuned in to their city’s public life.
The Mumbai Festival provides an annual opportunity.
• To convey a positive message about Mumbai to a wider world, raising its profile and image to attract tourists and potential investors in the city.
• For the wider world to engage with the artistic and business communities of Mumbai, allowing a platform to convey information and positive images to the diverse and dynamic Indian society.
• Through bilateral and multilateral activity (primarily in arts and culture) to be a meeting place of ideas, opportunity for exchange and a force for international understanding and intercultural dialogue.
Through its program, the festival is aware of its capacity to
• Bring Mumbai communities together and enhance their sense of belonging and responsibility.
• Augment the image of Mumbai and Maharashtra as a World Culture Hub.
• Have an economic impact – both direct and indirect on Mumbai and Maharashtra.
• Make Mumbai a city of abundance and joy through an affirmative and dynamic thrust from its people.
In considering the contribution that international participants can make to the festival, all of the above factors are relevant. The festival wants to see its international program, where possible, contribute to
• Developing people-to-people cultural and emotional ties.
• In making, and ensuring, Mumbai a global destination for people of a wider world.
• Providing quality, professional cultural events accessible to local people.
• Getting local people excited and inspired and augmenting their cultural wealth.
• Developing the local creative and cultural sector.
To check the Mumbai Festival day to day events and schedule please download our schedule here
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2008
The art and literature fraternity is all set to weave its magic again, as the dark horse is ready gallop. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2008 is scheduled to take place from February 2 to February 10 in Mumbai. The 9-day festival has a number of cultural events lined up to steal the hearts of all art lovers. It is a popular and credible cultural festival, which is attended by dignitaries from the world of art and entertainment.
The cultural extravaganza showcases commendable works of artistes in the field of music, dance, film and visual arts. The special feature of the festival is that it has something for everyone. The festival is ever bustling with activity and provides opportunity for change from the otherwise materialistic woes of modern lifestyle. The experience is an enthralling one as it offers rich events in Arts, Literature, Music and Theatre.
Moreover, you can witness some beautifully designed kiosks, get a portrait done by talented artistes, watch a sculptor bring clay to life, attend book readings or talks on art and literature. You can even watch play, movie, or enjoy music concert or even go for a heritage walk. Savor some local food delicacies while enjoying street performances. Besides, there is a host of exhibitions, film screenings, seminars, workshops and other presentations and performances to lure the visitors. However, theatre forms an integral part of this festival.
Guide of Mumbai or Bombay City
Tour the great tourist attractions & spots of our beautiful city. For a brief travel guide to the city of Mumbai or Bombay kindly read on below...
Mumbai or Bombay City Guide
Make sure you read the guide below so you can check out some of the great places Mumbai has to offer visitors & tourists alike. If you plan to be there in Mumbai then give Enoma a call or send us an email. Looking forward to meeting you in Mumbai soon....
and yes, if you want to party or hang out in Mumbai then you won't find a better guide than Enoma for local information - and that's final!!
Word of Caution - Tourists & visitors to Mumbai are unfortunately nestled into the south of Mumbai city. Thus, they have no clue about the real city life, people, cultures, fun, hangouts, festivals, events, goodies, foods, shops, etc. If you are visiting Mumbai anytime soon we hope you visit the suburbs of western Mumbai. There is a lot to Mumbai that most tourists don't know.
Mumbai City Guide
The City of Mumbai (previously known as Bombay), which nestles on the Western coast of India in the Arabian Sea, originally consisted of seven islands, which have since been joined together by a series of reclamations, formed part of the kingdom of Ashoka, the famous Emperor of India.
In 1534 the Portuguese, who already possessed many important trading centers on the Western coast as Panjim, Daman and Diu, took Bombay by force and fortified their new possession. Not content with merely ruling over this new land, they also changed the name of the city to "Bom Baia" which in Portuguese means "Good Bay." One hundred and twenty-eight years later, the islands were given as a dowry to King Charles II of England on his marriage to the Portuguese Princess, Catherine of Braganza. And in 1668, the English East India Company on lease from the crown acquired these very same islands for the princely sum of 10 pounds in gold, as the Company was in search of a deep-water port so that larger shipping vessels could dock. Being unable to pronounce the Portuguese name for the city, the British then changed the name from "Bom Baia" to "Bombay."
In 1947 India achieved her independence, and with it, the demise of the British domination of a once proud and prosperous colony.
In 1960, after independence, Bombay State, which included Bombay city as its seat of government, was divided into two states along linguistic lines; two new states, namely Maharashtra and Gujarat were born, the former retaining Bombay city as its capital.
The city once again saw the cementing of its many open spaces, most notable the back-bay reclamation in the late 1960s and early 1970s that led to the creation of the downtown Central Business District or Nariman Point. This area boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the world. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was established in 1857 and has evolved over the decades into its present status as the premier Stock Exchange in India and the third largest in the world. Trading of stocks is carried out in billions of rupees every day and has earned the city the proud distinction of contributing about 40% of the gross domestic product generated in India Known as the 'nerve' center of India, Mumbai (named after the Goddess Mumba Devi, the patron Goddess of the city according to the Kohli or the indigenous fisher folk of the city) is, today, home to about 20 million people who speak eight of the major Indian languages.
The city is a virtual melting pot of people who can enjoy everything from the hundreds of restaurants catering to virtually every cuisine to art galleries; heritage buildings numbering over 600 that are living examples of the greatest Indo-Saracenic and Gothic architecture to more contemporary styles creating a skyline to rival any major international city; and home to Bollywood, the world's largest film industry.
Places of Interest in Mumbai City
GATEWAY OF INDIA: Designed by George Wikket, it was built to commemorate the visit of King George V in 1911. It is a magnificent structure overlooking the Arabian Sea in South Mumbai. Also a spot for making short, exciting harbour cruises, including Elephanta Caves, across the expansive Mumbai harbour.
PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM : A mere five-minute walk from the Gateway stands this prestigious museum, built in 1904 and designed in the Indo-Saracenic style. It consists of an ornamental garden and a galleried central hall containing rare artifacts collected from the world over, roofed by a huge dome.
JEHANGIR ART GALLERY : Adjacent to the Prince of Wales Museum is themost famous art gallery in Mumbai hosting exhibitions of modern Indian Art. Don't forget to try out the gallery's informal cafe `Samovar,' where you could find yourself rubbing shoulders with some of Mumbai's famous artists.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART (NGMA) : Located in close proximity to both the Prince of Wales museum and the Jehangir Art Gallery, this new addition to the cultural scene in Mumbai is gaining in popularity. Home to contemporary art and craft exhibitions as well as an alternative venue for theatre, it is not surprising that the NGMA is booked year round.
MUMBAI UNIVERSITY : Diagonally opposite to the Jehangir Art Gallery is one of the most important landmarks of Mumbai. The Venetian Gothic building houses the Rajabai Clock Tower, a gothic tower 260 ft. high that is curiously adorned with oriental figures.
MUMBAI HIGH COURT : Next to the university is the sprawling Mumbai High Court complex, a more than 100-year old structure that is another fine example of Venetian Gothic architecture.
HUTATMA CHOWK (Flora Fountain) : This marvelous fountain was built in 1869, in honor of Sir Henry Bartle and Edward Frere. Named after "Flora," the Roman Goddess of Flowers whose statue crowns this marvelous fountain, Flora Fountain is situated in the heart of the city at a junction of five streets. Next to her is a pair of torch bearing stone patriots that rise from the Martyr's Memorial nearby. It has been renamed Hutatma Chowk or Martyr's Square to honour those who died in the birth of Maharashtra State, of which Mumbai is the capital city.
BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE : The modern multi-storied skyscraper near Flora Fountain, established in 1857, is the principal stock exchange of India where billions of rupees change hands everyday.
HORNIMAN CIRCLE : A beautiful circle of stately buildings, its an ancient monumental site near Flora Fountain, including the neo-classical Town Hall housing the Asiatic Library and the Central Library. A well-maintained park, the Horniman Circle Gardens, forms the center of the round.
TOWN HALL - ASIATIC LIBRARY : With its old parquet floors, spiral staircases, wrought-iron loggias and exquisite marble statues of forgotten city fathers, the colonnaded Town Hall is perhaps the most regal and elegant of Mumbai's heritage buildings. It houses the Asiatic Society, a library with a collection of 800,000 antique volumes, including a priceless first edition copy of Dante's, "Inferno."
CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS (Victoria Terminus) : Built in 1887, this is the city's most celebrated Gothic structure and the Headquarters of the Central Railway, the largest and the most complex railway system in India. Modeled on the lines of the St. Pancras Station in London, VT is undoubtedly the Raj's piece de resistance, complete with carved stone friezes, stained glass windows and flying buttresses. At the top of the central dome stands the triumphant figure of Progress. Rechristened Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus after the fearless Maratha warrior, this magnificent ode to architecture will be the backdrop to the start and finish lines of the marathon races.
MAHATMA PHULE MARKET (CRAWFORD MARKET) : Located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is Mumbai's largest fresh fruit and vegetable market. You have to visit it to believe it!
BRIHANMUMBAI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION : This 100 year old colonial building opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus houses the various administrative functional departments of the city of Mumbai.
SILVER AND CHOR BAZAAR (THIEVES MARKET) : As their names suggest these two markets are located next to Crawford Market and would make any bargainer proud.
MARINE DRIVE : An esplanade in a sweeping curve it runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. Perhaps the best known landmark in Mumbai, it's also called the Queen's Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like an enormous pearl necklace, and is at its most beautiful when lit up in the evening. It stretches for about 6 kms and substitutes also as an ideal joggers' promenade, especially in the early morning.
CHOWPATTY BEACH and JUHU BEACH : A beach along Marine Drive that comes to life when the sun goes down. Eating 'Bhelpuri' and various 'chats' from the stalls is almost a ritual here. From Chowpatty beach on the Eastern border one can clearly see the marvelous Marine Drive, part of the marathon route that hugs the sea, ending in a skyline that resembles New York; or from the Western end, one can drive up Walkeshwar road that climbs a hill where the views of the Arabian Sea are spectacular.
Juhu Beach is the most popular beach in Mumbai that lays 30 kms away from the heart of the city. It is a long stretch of sandy beach well known for its carnival type of atmosphere, all with camel rides, horse rides, dancing monkeys and shooting galleries. Not to mention the inviting food stalls.
MALABAR HILL : Winding uphill from Chowpatty you reach Malabar Hill, one of Mumbai's most posh residential areas. It offers a fantastic view of the Arabian Sea and Queens Necklace from a height. The lush Kamala Nehru Park and the famous Hanging Gardens are located here.
JAIN TEMPLE ON WALKESHWAR ROAD : This temple is one of the finest examples of Jain architecture. The Jain religion was born at the same time as Buddhism and is one of the minor religions observed in India. Brightly decorated in colours and intricate carvings, this temple is well worth a visit.
BAN GANGA : A sacred tank surrounded by four 100-year old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Mumbai's paradoxes more evident than in this area. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is rumoured to have come from the Holy Ganges river. In the Winter Season, Ban Ganga is home to open air music concerts.
KAMALA NEHRU PARK & HANGING GARDENS : A giant Old Woman's shoe (from the popular nursery rhyme) in the Kamala Nehru Park is the star attraction here and very popular with children to play in. One also gets a panoramic view of parts of the city from these parks situated at the height of Malabar Hill. When seen at night, the views of the line of streetlights along Marine Drive resemble a dazzling bejeweled "Queen's Necklace". At sunset, the waterfall and fountains in the park are lit with colorful lights that are worth seeing. The Hanging Gardens surrounded by beautiful flowerbeds and lush green lawns are very popular as picnic spots. It is also home to creatively decorated topiaries.
MANI BHAVAN : Is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi and has been transformed into a museum housing a reference library with over 2,000 books and other memorabilia.
MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE : This temple is situated very close to the sea off Mahalakshmi. This temple has three beautiful images of Hindu goddesses, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali, which are made of gold. During the Navaratri festival in October (celebrated predominantly by the Gujarati sect), devoted Hindus throng this temple in great numbers to offer coconut, flowers and sweets to the goddesses.
HAJI ALI : Around the corner from Mahalakshmi is this beautiful mausoleum situated at the culmination of a causeway jutting out into the Arabian Sea. This is the tombstone of the famous Muslim saint Haji Ali. The mosque can be reached only at low tide.
MAHALAKSHMI RACE COURSE : This racecourse is one of the best in the world. The racing season is for six months from October to April. But during off-season, it becomes one of the most popular exercise spots where people (and sometimes dogs) walk.
NEHRU PLANETARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTRE : This Science Center is named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and is situated in Worli. It boasts a computer laboratory, mobile science exhibition units, a heritage hall, an auditorium, an inflatable dome planetarium, science library and a children's science park. The sky-show at the planetarium is very interesting with its narration, sound effects and slide projections that combine entertainment with education. It has a library containing a large collection of books on astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences.
SAAT RASTA DHOBI GHAT : These "laundries" called 'ghats' - row upon row of concrete wash pens, each filled with its own flogging stone -- are where most of Mumbai's citizens get their linen cleaned. One could actually see one's own 'dirty laundry being aired!
VEERMATA JIJABAI BHONSLE UDYAN (VICTORIA GARDENS) : Popularly known as 'Ranee Baug' after its namesake, Victoria Gardens have been rechristened Jijamata Udyan. They are botanical gardens sprawled over 48 acres and contain some of Mumbai City's oldest trees - some even dating back 200 years! The entrance has a charming Renaissance clock tower to match the Italian-Renaissance-style Victoria and Albert Museum renamed Bhau Dali Ladd museum.
SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE : A few kms away from the Nehru Planetarium and Science Center, is this splendid temple of Lord Ganpati or Siddhivinayak, made of white marble. People come here from all over Mumbai and other parts of the state to worship. Tuesday is considered the most auspicious day of the week to visit this temple, and one can often see long serpentine queues form outside the temple from the wee hours of the morning.
MOUNT MARY CHURCH : One of the most prominent and splendid churches in Mumbai, it is home to where the revered Madonna of Mount Mary stands. Large crowds comprising not just Catholics but people from all communities come here to pay obeisance. A special feature is the annual fair, held in September, when the entire area comes alive with people, festivity, music and games for 15 days.
ELEPHANTA CAVES : These ancient caves situated on an island just 9 kms, adrift of the Mumbai harbour in the Arabian Sea, are marvels by themselves. Carved from the rock face, these caves are an ideal tribute to the Maurya Dynasty that ruled there. The caves contain magnificently sculpted statues depicting the God 'Shiva' in various forms and facets. The most famous being the 'Maheshmurti' where Shiva takes the form of the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. This place is also a favored picnic spot for Mumbaites. It is an hour's launch ride away from the Gateway of India.
SANJAY GANDHI NATIONAL PARK (BORIVALI NATIONAL PARK) : 110 sq. kms. of protected area, this is the largest reserve forest in the midst of a sprawling metropolis anywhere in the world, with leopards, peacocks, deer, monkeys, birds and reptiles all sharing space in their natural habitat. The main draw of the park is the lion safari and the toy train for going around. A welcome change from the crowded metro, it's also a favorite picnic spot for families on the weekends.
KANHERI CAVES : These are glorious examples of rock-cut Buddhist architecture found in the ancient caves that are a marvel by themselves.
ESSEL WORLD : Located near Gorai beach, this is a huge theme park having numerous unique and exiting rides and games, very popular among Mumbaites and loved by children. It also has 'Water Kingdom,' easily the largest and the most intriguing water park in the country.
FANTASY LAND : Another theme park built on the lines of Essel World. The most interesting feature being its roller coaster ride with a 360-degree loop.
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