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Its young, its lively and a
confluence of varied cultural currents and cross
currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most
multi-ethnic city of India. The capital city of
Maharashtra State, formerly known as Bombay lies in the
southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular
site originally composed of seven islets lying off the
Konkan coast of western India. Oozing with the cocksure
self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass"
(carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial
and commercial hub and has a principal port on the
Arabian Sea. Yet, there's another face of Mumbai too
that is of the most densely populated cities in the
world. Mumbai is located on a site of ancient settlement
and took its name from the local Goddess "Mumba" - a
form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the
principal Gods of Hinduism - whose temple once stood in
what is now the southeastern section of the city. Amchi
Mumbai (Our Mumbai) whether one is being swept along
broad boulevards by endless streams of commuters, or
jostled by coolies and handcart pullers in the teeming
bazaars, Mumbai always feels like it is about to burst
at the seams. Symbols of prosperity can be witnessed
anywhere in the city: from the phalanx of the office
blocks clustered on the Nariman Point, Maharashtra's
Manhattan, to the yuppie couples nipping around the town
in their shiny new cars.
A traditional center of India, Mumbai offers an enticing
range of hand-woven and handprint silks and cottons as
well as trendiest new materials made from polyester
fibbers. The Imposing tower of Mumbai's Stock Exchange
building at Dalal Street is a well-known city landmark
and plays a vital role in the city's business scene.
Nariman Point is a specimen of the wonders modern
building science can perform. Visitors usually impressed
by its sleek skyscrapers, which resemble Manhattan's
skyline have called this place "a piece of Manhattan
transported to Mumbai".
On The Waterfront:
The natural beauty of Mumbai is unsurpassed by that of
any city in the region. The entrance into the harbor
from the sea discloses a magnificent panorama framed by
the Western Ghats (mountains) on the mainland. The wide
harbor, studded with islands and dotted with the white
sails of innumerable small craft, affords secure shelter
to ships, particularly when storms lash the coast. The
largest of the harbor's islands is Elephanta, which is
famous for its 6th century caves temples. Send Exotic
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The Architecture Blends:
Mumbai's architecture is a mixture of florid Gothic
styles, characteristic of the 18th and 19th centuries,
and contemporary designs. The older administrative and
commercial buildings intermingle with skyscrapers and
multi-storey concrete-block buildings. Within the eye of
a roaring storm of traffic, lie other vestiges of the
British Raj, the 'maidens'. The central Bazaar districts
afford glimpses of the sprawling Muslim neighborhoods,
as well as exotic shopping possibilities.
People and Cultural Life:
Mumbai's cultural life reflects its ethnically diverse
population. The city is truly multicultural, and
representatives of almost every religion and region of
the world can be found in Mumbai. Almost half of the
population is Hindu; but the city also encompasses
important communities of Muslims, Christians, Buddhists,
Jains, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Jews. The Jews form one
the oldest group of occupants of Mumbai. Almost every
Indian language and many foreign languages are spoken
over here. Marathi, the State language, is the dominant
Indian language in Mumbai, followed by Gujarati and
Hindi. The city has a number of museums, libraries,
literary and other cultural institutions, art galleries,
and theatres and perhaps no other city in India can
boast of such a high degree of variety and quality in
its cultural and entertainment facilities. Mumbai is the
stronghold of the Indian film industry. Throughout the
year Western and Indian music concerts and festivals and
Indian dance shows are performed. The Prince of Wales
Museum of Western India, housed in a building of Indo-Saracenic
architecture, contains three main sections of art,
archaeology, and natural history. Situated nearby are
the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai's first permanent art
gallery, and center of cultural and educational
activities. |
