Like they say- “The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.” For Mumbai, every day is a festival, so many people, so many traditions, yet all are together. The core Mumbai is the Maharashtrian community, whose important festival is Ganesh Chaturthi. Mumbai also homes the traditional Parsis in India, hence, the Parsi New Year is also an important festival here.
In this read, we bring to you the list of festivals, which are celebrated with an all round different aura in Mumbai.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Courtesy: www.heritageindiaholidays.com
Ganesh Chaturthi falls in the Month of August and September every year. People in Mumbai keep the idol of Lord Ganesha in their home for 3, 5, or 11 days. Special celebrations can be observed at the Siddhivinayak temple and Lal Bagh Raja Ganesha.
Parsi New Year
Courtesy: www.npr.org
This is a day of sheer importance to the Parsi Community because one this day, Shahenshahi Zoroastrian community landed in India from Persia. It falls in the month of August or September. On this day, people organize feasts at the Parsi temple and meet friends and relatives.
Kala Ghoda Art Festival
Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com
Mumbai is home to the art lovers from across the country. The Kala Ghoda Art Festival is a nine-day long celebration, held usually during the first week of February every year. The festival showcases visual arts, dance, music, theatre, cinema, and literature. One can also participate in the workshops, heritage walks, urban design and architecture, and food. The festival also offers a section of vibrant street stalls for selling and purchasing arts and crafts.
Bandra Feast
Courtesy: theculturetrip.com
The Basilica of Mount Mary, Bandra organizes the Bandra Feast every year during the month of September. People regard this day as a feast day of the Virgin Mary. Fair, Shopping, and Food accompany the Bandra Feast.
Gudi Padwa
Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com
This is a regional festival in Maharashtra, which is celebrated in the Month of March/April every year. The day marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
Ujjain is the largest city in Madhya Pradesh state of India. It is also an ancient city and homes Mahakaleshwar- an avatar of Lord Shiva. The city is located on the banks of Shipra river and on the Malwa plateau region.
History of the city of Ujjain
In Hindu epic tales, the Ujjain city is referred to as Avantika. It was famous for its beauty and as a devotional region in the Central India. The city hosted educational institutes for studying holy scriptures.
About Mahakaleshwar temple
It is one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. People believe that the shrine emerged from land by own and beholds wish granting powers. The shine is dakshinamurthy, meaning South facing, which is a unique feature and often associated with the supernatural practices.
The Mahakaleshwar is also one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas are the places where the body parts of Goddess Sati fell, when she sacrificed her life on fire. The temple compound also homes many deities and Shiva temples.
On the occasion of Mahashivratri, the temple’s grandeur is on its peak and the devotees from neighbouring cities pay a visit to the temple. A huge fair is also conducted in the temple vicinity.
Courtesy: www.flickr.com
Ujjain Kumbh Mela
The Ujjain Kumbh Mela also known as Simhastha Kumbh occurs every 12 years. Millions of people from over the country participate in the fair. The significance of the event lies in taking a dip into the river Shipra, followed by bowing to the Mahakal at the Mahakaleshwar temple.
People believe that this ritual clears them of all their sins and opens the door to the heaven. The next Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain is due in the year 2028.
If you are planning to visit Ujjain, an easy travel option is booking intercity cabs and reaching your destination hassle free.
Yakut was a eunuch (a man who is employed to guard the women’s living area) of the Qutub Shahi court. Once he fell ill and had a dream of a man in a green dress asking him to visit the Moula Ali hill. The man in his dream told- “Ali is waiting for you on the hill”. Next morning, he visited the hill and saw Ali (God) sitting on the top of the hill. Yakut’s illness got cured after his visit. And the people thought that the hill has healing power.
Started with a mere number of 14 guests during its inaugural year of 2005, the Jaipur Literature Festival commonly known as the JLF or the Jaipur Lit Feast has emerged as one of the biggest literary events globally. Attracting writers and the literary society from home and abroad, this Woodstock of literature has been able to emulate itself across the world and lure in a population of uncountable numbers helping in expanding the footfalls. The festival enables the rich heritage of Rajasthan to lighten up the expected visitors by showcasing a broad spectrum of color and culture of the home state.
Held at the famous Hotel Diggi Palace of Jaipur from its very inception, the JLF is set to return for its 2017 edition which will run from 19th – 20th of January, 2017. The Diggi Palace playing the host for this feast every year serves the best environment and the space to unfold the 5-day itinerary of the festival. As the festival is open to all, it freely invites visitors from all the hemispheres of the planet Earth. Upholding the freedom of expression in writing and embracing the diversified opinions and viewpoints of the invited guests, the JLF has really evolved itself into a multidimensional event.
The vastness and the exuberance of the crowd gathering in the whole 5-day long schedule is by far the most distinctive feature of this festival. Often described as the Greatest literary show on Earth and the World’s largest free literary event, the JLF is a sublime blend of authors, lyricists, musicians and film personalities. These invited guests are either a host of Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Man Booker Prize winner or eminent individuals who shares the stage and liven ups the air in-and-around the Diggi Palace.
During its entire length of the schedule, JLF boasts the unity of multifarious groups of authors, thinkers, and critics, who amuse the attentive guests with their inspiring and bold talks. The cultural events accompany a series of book readings and other talks of discussions with only a single aim in mind, i.e., to expose the inquisitive audience to the world of poetry, theatre, and fiction.
Here are the things you should not at all miss out at the JLF:-
Indian Flavor:
In the blurring of the semantic boundaries, one must find the reputed Indian wordsmiths discussing affairs starting from political interests to the mysteries of creativeness. Prominent lyricists arousing sorcery in the air with their mystical conversations. And Bollywood glamour visiting by adding charm to the feast.
Poetry in Motion:
With the sunset darkening the day, Diggi Palace will be wrapped up with cultural tentacles giving the feel of the performative arts. The enchanting poetries will captivate the audience making them forget about the passing of time.
Noted artist Javed Akhtar and Gulzar sharing the stage at JLF 2016
Literary Giants:
The festival always flags off with a key address note from a highlighted literary star who fly all the way from a distant place and descends to the deserts of Rajasthan.
The festival also was able to queue up some of the exquisite writers, profound economists, fabled photographers, and some brave-hearted souls.
The Dalai Lama during his visit to JLF 2016
Book signing session:
Having a dedicated book signing in the premises, the authors and the speakers sit and shares some time signing their paperbacks for his legion of fans and other bibliophiles. Treasuring books of every categories, you shall get to explore and acquire any piece you like to take away. But of course you have to pay for it.
Electrifying cultural events:
The fusion of the various musical genres and compilation of the artistic works of assorted ethnic cultural groups, light up the ambiance of the Diggi Palace making it one hell of a show on earth.
Being able to spread its roots to overseas, the JLF is tantalizing the crowd at the Southbank Centre, London (United Kingdom) and in Boulder, Colorado (United States of America).
With the registrations already commenced, don’t forget to enroll yourself for this awe-inspiring schedule in the Pink city of India.
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