MUMBAI

Dahi Handi groups, known as mandals, begin their practice sessions at least two months in advance. The frequency of these sessions largely depends on the number of 'Thars' or layers in the human pyramid they aspire to construct. Prominent teams typically aim for impressive 7-8 layers, while local groups, celebrating for the sheer joy of it, often manage 3-4 layers with less rigorous practice.

A large Dahi Handi group can comprise 60 to 100 members or more, often drawing participants from local chawls, making this festival a celebration deeply embedded in middle-class communities. Traditionally, festivities would begin around 8 am; however, nowadays, groups typically assemble between 11 am and 12 pm. The day kicks off with a prayer and the distribution of jerseys for the mandal, often sponsored by local politicians, whose names are prominently displayed. Following this, the group visits a nearby mandir to seek for the safety of all members. They then break a handi in their practice area to honor the community that has supported them throughout their preparations. After this ceremonial moment, they venture out to participate in various Dahi Handi events across the city.

Long-established Dahi Handi groups have designated locations known as 'manachi handi' that are reserved for them as part of their tradition. In earlier times, these groups would often hire multiple trucks or buses for transportation. Nowadays, many members opt for bikes, occasionally booking a truck as a backup. They share breakfast and lunch together at predetermined spots, journeying across the city to well-known locations, typically returning home around midnight or 1 am. The groups consist of both participants who form the human pyramid and spectators who serve as a safety net, ensuring a supportive environment for all involved.

Major Dahi Handi events feature music, dance, and celebrity hosts. Spectators often join in the fun by hurling buckets of water and water balloons at participants to hold back their attempts to break the handi. Over the years, safety regulations for these events have tightened. While groups once constructed pyramids with 9-10 layers, current restrictions limit higher layers to select groups only. To enhance safety, the top layer, typically featuring a child aged 8-14, is now secured with a rope around their waist to prevent falls and injuries. Popular locations for witnessing Dahi Handi celebrations include Worli, Wadala, and Byculla.

Although most participants are male, there are also all-female Dahi Handi groups.

Preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi pandals in Mumbai city begin about a month or more before the actual day. Community members decorate the pandal in anticipation, often choosing creative themes inspired by movies, current events, or social issues, though some opt for simpler decorations. The 'Aagman' of Ganpati, where murtis are brought to the pandals, is a major event designed to avoid logistical issues associated with bringing all murtis on the same day. Each pandal decides its own day for Aagman, which includes festivities featuring gulaal, traditional dhols, and Tasha, with attendees often dressing up for the occasion. Once Aagman is complete, the Ganpati murti remains covered until Ganesh Chaturthi. The pandal atmosphere stays lively throughout the festival, with community members, especially children, visiting to relax or play games, ensuring that Ganesh ji is never left alone.

A smaller Ganpati murti often accompanies the main one during festivities. This practice serves a significant purpose: the smaller murti is designated for the initial puja, while the larger murti is reserved for immersion in water. On Chaturthi, Vedic mantras are recited, and sweets are offered as prasad. Over the 11 days, pandals often host bhajans, dance competitions for children and game nights. In the past, there were also movie screenings as part of the festivities.

On the day of the visarjan, major Ganpati pandals like Lalbaugcha Raja take around 22 hours to complete the immersion, starting their preparations in the morning. In contrast, smaller pandals begin their processions in the afternoon. The traditional dhol-tasha and local banjo are integral parts of the festivities, although people often find it challenging to dance to the dhol-tasha. Despite its difficulty, the dhol-tasha remains a cultural staple. Previously, DJs and large speakers were common on visarjan trucks, but government regulations over the past decade have banned their use. Initially, this decision was unpopular, as many preferred DJs over local banjos, but the community has adapted.

The Ganpati murti is typically carried on a trolley, followed by a van or truck with a generator, and led by a band. In some neighborhoods, as the procession passes in front of society gates, a basket suspended from a height showers the murti with flowers and gulaal. The immersions for most large murtis take place at Girgaon Chowpatty or Prabhadevi Chowpatty. A final aarti is performed before the immersion, after which everyone heads home.

The Girgaon Shobhayatra is a grand procession held in the Girgaon area of Mumbai during Gudi Padwa. Girgaon becomes the center of attention as thousands of people and onlookers gather to witness the event.

The celebration at Girgaon is marked by the colourful procession of the Gudi, which is carried out in a grand manner. The procession starts from the Girgaon Chowpatty beach and passes through various lanes and bylanes of the neighbourhood. The Gudi is carried on a decorated chariot, accompanied by a group of people playing traditional musical instruments like dhol-tasha and lezim. The highlight of the celebration is the breaking of the coconut, which is done at the end of the procession.

The Banganga Festival is a captivating cultural event that takes place annually in January at the Banganga Tank in Mumbai's Malabar Hills. Organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Indian Heritage Society, Mumbai—this two-day festival celebrates the rich musical heritage of India through live classical music performances by renowned artists.

The festival owes its name to the historic Banganga Tank, which lies adjacent to the ancient Walkeshwar Mandir. It is said that Bhagwan Ram shot an arrow into the ground during his journey to Lanka, and the waters of the Ganga sprang forth from the spot where the arrow hit, forming the Banganga Tank.

Historically, the tank is linked to the Malabar Hill area, which was originally called Shrigundi, meaning the Lucky Stone. Malabar Point, named due to pirates from Dharmapatan near Tellichery along the Malabar Coast, became known for the calm waters at the north end of Back Bay where pirates like Kotta and Porka hid while waiting for the northern fleet.

During the festival, the entire area surrounding the tank is beautifully decorated with lights, flowers, and ornaments, creating a mesmerizing ambiance for the musical performances. Visitors can enjoy concerts by acclaimed artists such as Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, and Ustad Zakir Hussain, who enthrall the audience with their mastery of classical music.

The Kala Ghoda Festival, a nine-day cultural extravaganza held in February, celebrates art, music, dance, and theater. With workshops, seminars, exhibits, and performances, the festival offers a platform for artists and enthusiasts to engage with various art forms and cultural expressions.

The Mumbai Film Festival, organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), is a prestigious annual event showcasing a diverse range of films from South Asia and around the world. Established in 1997, the festival aims to promote new cinematic voices and foster an ecosystem for filmmakers. It features a carefully curated selection of films across various genres, emphasizing artistic merit and cultural relevance. The festival also includes panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities for industry professionals.

Golfa Devi Mandir is a renovated marble structure that gleams white. Inside, on a raised platform, sits Golfa Devi, represented by a black stone murti covered with a heavily embroidered cloth. She is flanked by two other devis, Sakba Devi and Harba Devi, with their murtis placed on either side of her.

When a fisherman seeks guidance on whether it is safe to take his boat to sea, the pujari places two tiny silver balls on the shoulders of the devi. After saying a few prayers, he instructs the worshiper to ask their question, either aloud or silently. If the ball on the left shoulder falls first, the answer is no; if the ball on the right shoulder falls, the answer is yes.

The Golfa Devi Jatra is held on Makar Sankranti, around January, to honor the devi. Mahalaxmi Devi Jatra and Ambe Mata Jatra are also popular among people held during Navratri.

The Urus in honor of Saint Hajarat Makhdum Fakih Ali Saheb is celebrated on the full moon day of December and lasts for ten days. The dargah opens early in the morning, welcoming thousands of visitors throughout the day, and closes after the night prayers. People bring flowers, incense sticks, and sweets to offer at the Saint's tomb.

It is believed that the Saint has the power to fulfill wishes, and many individuals visit the dargah hoping for blessings such as a child or success in business. Upon having their wishes fulfilled, they return to offer sweetmeats and other items in gratitude.

On the first day of the fair, a procession organized by the Dargah Sharif Trust brings sandalwood paste and a new galaf, which are applied to the tombs of the Saint and his mother. The holy Quran is recited, and prayers are offered. Over the next nine days, processions from various parts of the city continue to bring sandalwood paste and galafs to the dargah. Pilgrims from all religions, mostly from the city itself, participate in this event.

This annual Urus is held in honor of Saint Pir Sayed Ahmed Ali Shah Kadri on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Rajab. The dargah opens at 4:00 a.m., with morning worship involving offerings of flowers and incense at the tombs. In the evenings, the mujawar continues these rituals. Every Thursday, the galafs on the tombs are replaced, and the tombs are bathed with rose and other scented water, while sweets are offered and distributed among attendees.

A big drum is played daily before the evening namaz. It is believed that the saint and the mujawar have the power to fulfill desires, leading many to pray for blessings such as children, business success, or relief from afflictions. Upon fulfillment, they offer galafs, sweetmeats, and other promised items in gratitude.

The three-day fair begins on the 6th of Rajab, with a sandalwood paste procession, known as the "sandal," on the 7th. This procession gathers a large crowd and travels through Dongri, Pydhuni, and Nagpada before returning to the Dargah. The sandalwood paste is applied to the tombs during a ceremony called "Sandal Chadhana." On the final day, another sandal procession departs around 1:00 p.m. and returns around 8:00 p.m., where prayers and rituals like Fatihah, Milad, and Kurankhani are conducted. Most participants in these events are Muslims.

The Jatra is held twice a year in honor of Devi Mahalakshmi, Devi Mahakali, and Devi Mahasaraswati, during the Navaratri festival from Ashvina Sud. 1 to Ashvina Sud. 10 (September-October) and again from Chaitra Sud. 1 to Chaitra Sud. 10 (March-April). The Navaratri jatra, also known as Mahayatra, is the more significant of the two, attracting pilgrims from Mumbai and its surrounding areas. Bhajans, kirtans, and pravachans are arranged during the festival, and the mandir remains open until midnight on these occasions. The Chaitra jatra, starting on Gudi Padwa, follows a similar pattern, with special puja and the installation of a ghata, culminating on Chaitra Sud. 9 with the lighting of a sacred fire.

The Haji Ali Dargah, located on an islet off the coast of Worli, is a renowned Islamic pilgrimage site in Mumbai. The annual fair at the dargah attracts people of all faiths who come to pay their respects to Saint Haji Ali. The fair features qawwali performances, prayers, and offerings to the saint, as well as stalls selling flowers, sweets, and other religious items.

The Mumba Devi Mandir, dedicated to the city’s Mumba Devi, hosts an annual jatra during the Navratri festival. People gather at the mandir to seek aashirwad from Mumba Devi and participate in rituals and cultural events. The jatra also includes food stalls, performances, and religious processions.