Fairs and Festivals

The ideal time to travel to Bombay is during the time of fairs and festivals. Festivals brighten up this already bright and lively city of Bombay. Some of the major festivals celebrated with fun and gaiety in Bombay are Ganesh Chaturthi (late August-early September), Navratri (October-November), Gokul Ashtami (mid-August) Holi (mid-March), Diwali, Christmas, and Id-ul-Zuha & Id-Ul-Fitr. Bombay travel during the festivals of Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi can turn out to be a bright and colourful experience.

The festival of lights - Diwali, is a great time to travel to Bombay. The moonless night is turned into the brightest night of the year. The Marine Drive shines bright in the light of the innumerable firecrackers. In the Banganga tank of Bombay on the auspicious occasion of Diwali is celebrated in a traditional manner. The earthen lamps are floated in the waters. The shimmering flames on the water create a picturesque sight.

Ganesh Chaturthi, the worship of the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is widely celebrated in Bombay. As Lord Ganesha is considered to be the common avatar of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, both the Hindu sects, the Shaivites and the Vaishnavites, worship him.

Ganesh Chaturthi was initiated by the great Maratha ruler, Chhattrapati Shivaji, to dissemniate culture and nationalism. Later, it was given a new impetus by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival infused the Indians with a sense of unity and revived their patriotic spirit. The event is now a colossal celebration and perhaps the world's largest religion-inspired beach party. Processions from all over Bombay commandeer the city's already congested road system riding on and walking beside trucks bearing the Ganapatis. Loud speakers shriek from the truck cabs and processionals bang drums and gongs while the orange-capped devotees on the back of the trucks shower themselves and everyone in their wake with red powder called gulal. On the day of the Chaturthi, the last of the days dedicated to the elephant-headed god, thousands of processions converge on the beaches of Bombay to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This immersion is accompanied by drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing.

The Bombay International Film Festival, held once in every two year, is an occasion not to be missed. Held during the month of February, the festival screens the best of short, documentary and animation films at the Nehru Auditorium. Around the same time of the year the artists can have a gala time at the four-day long festival at the Elephanta Island. The annual event has the cream of artists perform Indian classical music and dance.