Welcome to the City of Dreams: Mumbai
- Ashish Sharma
If you haven’t made out the name of the city yet, you’re definitely living under a very big rock. It’s the city where stars shine bright, no matter its day or night. The city where one can find “Vada Pav” more often than any other snack.
Mumbai, which was previously known as Bombay, got its name after the goddess Mumbadevi, the protector of the fishermen, in 1995 with the effect of politics. But the native people still prefers to use the old colonial name out of the politics or maybe because they are just habitual to it.
It’s a part of Maharastra, mainly resided by the Marathis, people who are driven by their language, culture and food. This is well-noted by the tourists. It’s a city that only moves further, seldom has time to stop and talk. Lucky if you get a native person as your cab driver. If got a chance, people here love to talk about their art and culture and are very friendly.
The aesthetics of the city is astonishing; one might just feel all so vintage, as it takes you back to the old British times. The structures speak for themselves. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary Church is one such place to visit. It is located in Bandra, Mumbai, being a holy place for the birthday of the Virgin Mary celebrated here on the first Sunday after 8th September, the feast of which is locally known as the“Bandra Fair” and is visited by thousands of people. During the fair, the entire area is decorated with flowers and buntings. Many people set up their stalls, selling religious articles, snacks and sweets. Wax figures of Virgin Mary along with candles shaped like hands, feet and various other body parts are sold here. Lakhs of devotees of all religions are drawn to this place annually. It is a place with interesting legends clinging to every corner.
Your next stop could be one of the most popular places of worship in the city, the place with aura so deep; people literally dive in, the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple. One can reach here via the Bandra-Worli sea link in just 24 minutes drive, or you may just take a bus to Prabhadevi and walk to the temple. This place is considered so pure and enchanting that people even walk barefeet to the temple, to impress Lord Ganesha, to get their wishes granted. It is also one of the richest temples in the country. It is an ancient temple and people; from all over the world visits the place with deep trust and beliefs. Some of the locals start their day with Morning Prayer in the temple.
If you felt the shrine of the Siddhivinayak temple, the Haji Ali Dargah can be like the cherry on the top. Located just at a distance of 6.2 km, one can drive or may take a cab or bus to reach the destination. The place is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai. The accessibility to the dargah is very much dependent on the tides, since the causeway that leads to the dargah isn’t protected by any railings, and so when the causeway gets submerged, during high tides, it becomes inaccessible.
Therefore, one can reach the dargah only during low tides. This walk on the causeway, with sea on both the sides, is one of the highlights of the trip to the shrine. On Thursdays and Fridays, the tomb is visited by a number of pilgrims and tourists, irrespective of the faith and religion, to get the blessings of the legendary saint, who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Sometimes on Fridays, a form of devotional music called Qawwali is performed by various sufi musicians at the dargah.
Other places include the Gateway of India, Mahalaxmi temple, ISKON temple etc. Or if you are the person, who enjoys the antiquity and art, there are many museums to visit like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum and many more. For more of historical aesthetics, one may visit to the Elephanta Caves, which has secured probably the oldest beauty of our ancient India. The artistry and beauty that can only be felt when experienced in person. The structures there, awestruck you with the details and sharpness, made at the times when hardly any tools were available to the people. This place is also considered as one of the heritage sites. Other such places to visit include the Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves.
As per the evening, the beach would be the best place to be at. The sea here ensures the temperature won’t fluctuate much, and is the only thing that has always been the same over the years. And truly, the site looks splendid during sunrise and sunsets, and is capable to heal you from all the worries by taking you in a blanket of peace!!
