5 Famous Festivals in Mumbai

Mumbai is a historic city formed in the year 1507. Initially, a cluster of seven neighboring islands, the city we know today was formed by a merger of these seven islands into one single landmass. Unlike in other Indian cities, the culture of Mumbai is an amalgamation of age-old customs, religion, music, arts, and food. In addition to the religious festivals, the people of Mumbai celebrate cultural festivals too. This post is all about the famous festivals in Mumbai. 

Here are the most famous festivals in Mumbai

#1 Kala Ghoda Festival 

Kala Ghoda, a small townlet in South Mumbai is known for fostering art and culture through public events. It is the home to the famous Jehangir art gallery. The Kala Ghoda festival is a two-week-long event where you will find art exhibitions all over the streets of this South Mumbai art district. 

The festival begins on the first Saturday of February, every year. The primary objective of this festival is to provide a platform for artists from all over the country. This is a place where artists can congregate, and get to know each other. 

The event begins mainly after dark. And there’s no charge to attend the event. You can just walk right in. Note that CST is the nearest railway station to Kala Ghoda. The festival is about 2 KM from the train station, you can walk or take a taxi (it will cost you around 40-60 Rupees).

#2 Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi (also known as Ganeshotsav) is a Hindu festival celebrated all over the state of Maharashtra. Although you will find people in other states (and in some countries) celebrating this festival as well— Mumbai is the epicenter.  

This 10-day festival is celebrated each year in August. Locals keep a clay statue of the god Ganesha in their homes during this period. 

Eventually, the holy statue is drowned in a nearby seashore. The smaller statutes are generally downed on the first, third, or seventh day. And the massive ones are drowned on the tenth (or sometimes the eleventh day). The process of drowning the holy statue is known as “visarjan” in the local dialect.

#3 The Lil Flea Market

The life flea is popular among the upper financial class folks in the city of Mumbai. It may appear like a posh market for those with deep pockets but it is much more than that. 

This event takes place once a year which explains its popularity. The event is spread over a total of four weekends somewhere during the Summer season. As I said, it is more than just a hippie market. 

The party ambiance makes it easy for people to mingle with strangers. This is an ideal festival for single men who wish to meet loads of women in a short span. You can enjoy homemade food as well. Not to mention, handcrafted local beer. 

The Lil flea market is organized in Jio World Garden, Bandra East. Entry to this event is free and there’s no age bar. I personally like the food over here as other items are slightly overpriced. 

#4 Banganga Festival

This is a two-day music festival held near the holy Banganga tank near the Walkeshwar Temple Complex in the Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai. Classic music lovers from all over the country attend this event organized by the MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation). 

Banganga festival is celebrated in January every year. It is interesting to note that most art/cultural festivals are held during the December to January period. This is due to favorable weather conditions during this time of the year. 

The main purpose of this event is to preserve the ethnic Indian culture. In this event, several musicians are seen performing classical Indian musical instruments. This festival has a rich history. It is believed that Lord Rama himself stopped by the Banganga tank to have a sip of water during his journey to Lanka. 

You can attend the festival for free. However, Indians must purchase a Rs 20 ticket to attend the Banganga tank during non-festival days. Likewise, an entry ticket for foreigners is Rs 200 for one and Rs 350 for two. 

#5 Mood Indigo IIT Bombay

Mood Indigo is a cultural festival organized by the IIT Bombay. Although this event is meant primarily for IIT Bombay students, non-IIT Bombay folks can attend the event. Note that you need a pass to enter the IIT Bombay premises. And you must be a student with a valid ID card. 

Unfortunately, this event is exclusively meant for students. You could be a 30-year-old guy doing a Ph.D., and you can attend this event. But a working professional is not allowed. 

If a working professional can somehow manage to get hold of a Mood Indigo pass, he or she will have to make sure they dress up casually (like a student would). It is worth attending Mood Indigo as it is one of the most famous festivals in Mumbai. The event is held in late December of every year.

Summary 

When it comes to social events and get-togethers, Mumbai has a lot more to offer than other cities in India. In addition to the religious festivals such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas, etc, people here like to immerse themselves in cultural festivals (aka cultfest) as well. I have discussed the most popular ones in the city. Having said that, Ganesh Chaturthi is undoubtedly the most famous festival in Mumbai. It is a 10-day long event with people of all ages partaking wholeheartedly.