Mumbai, India — Events
Elephanta Festival
Each year, a motor launch carries visitors from Mumbai’s Gateway of India Monument to Elephanta Island, a small island about an hour and a half’s journey from the city, to enjoy the very special experience of the Elephanta Festival. A selection of renowned Indian dancers and musicians perform spectacular pieces against the dramatic backdrop of the island’s 1,300-year-old cave temples, while the smells of food stalls and wood smoke mix in the balmy evening air.
Kala Ghoda Bazaar
For three months, between November and January each year, street musicians and performers add to the colorful atmosphere of Mumbai’s Sunday street bazaars, held near the Jehangir Art Gallery in the city’s pedestrian plaza. The area becomes a hive of activity and excitement, with cultural performances and stalls selling a variety of handcrafts, folk art and food.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity. Celebrations are held throughout India and this is one of the highlights of the year for tourists visiting the country. The festival culminates in the murti of Ganesha being submerged in the Arabian Sea.
