Having lived in the state of Maharashtra from my childhood days, I feel that the city of Mumbai is for entertainment all the way. The main attraction is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, where many artistes, performers and crafts persons gather every February. Mumbai people are starved of such festivals as the Children and women enjoy the euphoric atmosphere and have a chance to go outdoors and get the much-needed exposure towards culture. The best place for cricket lovers is the Wankhede Stadium, where IPL matches are underway. During IPL cricket season, it is entertainment, entertainment, entertainment all the way.
The best part of enjoyment come during summer season when going to garden as if the Paanch Garden is a real thriller with Kala Khatta available with a different taste to enjoy every drop of it. The most visited part is the Juhu beach and as a morning walker, I go to the place quite frequently to walk tough on sands and enjoy the seawater to clean my legs affected with varicose veins.
Making sure of perfect dance and drama in the commercial capital we can go to auditoriums like the YB Chavan Auditorium for spending valuable time there. Fine Arts and Shanmukhananda Hall screen Tamil Dramas, musical concerts and activities with religious fervour. The eateries from Taj Continental Hotel, near Gateway of India to Naik’s idli at King Circle give you the taste of variety of idlis and dosas. Both Aastika Samaj and Bhajan Samaj provides you religious touch and the Matunga circle make you buy old cricket books on your way back home. Siddhivinayak Temple is yet another religious place like Mumbadevi Temple and Mahalakshmi Temple.
There are number of multiplex theatres and I-Max auditoriums but the real thrill of seeing a Rajinikanth Tamil movie at Arora theatre Sion is the real entertainment with his fans showing all tantrums before screening the film and during when the show is on until the end. Circus show in Bandra or near Chunnabati or the annual fair all the chief attraction.
For science, lovers and astronomers Nehru Science Centre at Worli give a feeling that you are in space. The Nehru Planetarium, commissioned on 3rd March, 1977, with the objective of fostering scientific temper through the means of entertainment. The planetarium has been making learning Astronomy a pleasant experience. It also has grown into a Centre for scientific study of astronomy and for meeting of scientists and scholars for discussions and lectures, arranged periodically on various stellar and Astronomical events. During celestial events taking place in the vicinity we can make use of the telescope placed there to look into the objects so closely and very clearly. Water Parks and Theme Parks are there in plenty for children and youth to enjoy various games there.
Come September we can enjoy Dandiya being played in the open grounds with enthusiasm at night. Young boys and girls wearing traditional attire enjoy the nine days in spite of rain threat in a chivalrous fashion. October month will see eleven days of Ganpati festival with much pomp and the religious fever touch our nadir as people chant Ganpati Bappa Morya till the time Pulcha Varshi Lokhriya. Mumbai masti continue all-round the year and we enjoy it in bits and pieces.
Jayanthy Subramaniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
