Debating whether to hit up the Mumbai Festival? We thought we’d help you decide with a sneak peek of what to expect
These street signs conceptualised by New Acropolis aim to change the way you look at your city. PICS/NEW ACROPOLIS CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
Starting January 20, the city will see a plethora of activity take over its streets, theatres, and stadiums. The Mumbai Festival, which brings under its banner the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Happy Streets, and Mumbai Marathon, aims to highlight what makes Mumbai the vibrant and exciting city it is. Here’s what you can expect from the fest.
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A tour through Raj Bhavan
Spread over a 44-acre property amidst the winding lanes and tree-covered locales of Malabar hill, the residence has been home to Mumbai’s governors since the year 1665, when Sir Humphrey Cooke took over the island of Bombay from the Portuguese. Inside, there are several items of historical and artistic value, including paintings, portraits, and carpets that date back to the British reign of Indian history. The tour is an opportunity to explore the history of the residence, as well as gaze at the Arabian sea from the vantage-point of Malabar hill. So, if you’re a history buff or simply looking to understand the city you live in better, sign up for the tour.
WHEN: January 20 to 28, 5 AM onwards
PRICE: Rs 649 onwards
TO BOOK: insider.in
New Acropolis’ Street Sign Installations
If you step inside the MMRDA grounds from January 20 onwards, and see street signs pointing in no particular direction, don’t be perplexed. These are part of an art installation by New Acropolis, a 17-year-old organisation comprising aspiring philosophers, which aims to spread the message that philosophy is deeply embedded in every aspect of human life, and is, in fact, the foundation of every perception, experience, and action. For the Mumbai Festival, the team came up with the idea to use street signs as a channel to look at life philosophically. The signs are tweaked to challenge our view of the everyday. “It is our attempt to take philosophy to the streets,” says Trishya Screwvala, a volunteer at the not-for-profit organisation. “Life is actually full of inspiration, if only we learn to see it and look for it.” The street signs may be familiar to all of us, she says, but every person can find news ways of looking at them. For example, the typical work-in-progress sign that features a man with a shovel, scooping debris, has been tweaked to state, “Life: A Work in Progress.” Similarly, the blaring yellow Caution sign has been re-interpreted as “Caution: Comfort Zone!”
WHERE: January 20 to 28, MMRDA Grounds, BKC
Exploring the jungle
Mumbai is often called a concrete jungle, but there are also vistas of greenery that the city has to offer. If you prefer treks and nature trails rather than squeezing in between crowds of pleasure-seekers, the Jungle Safari will be right up your alley. The safari features a tour of Borivali’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
WHERE: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali
WHEN: January 20 to 28, 10 AM onwards
PRICE: R2,596 onwards
TO BOOK: insider.in
Mumbai walks
The Mumbai walk, as it is simply named, offers a view into the city’s unique flavour of entrepreneurial spirit. The walk starts at the Gateway of India and aims to pay tribute to the ones who keep the city going: the dabbawallahs, BEST drivers, and fisherfolk.
WHEN: January 25, 7 PM to 10 PM
MEETING-POINT: Gateway of India, Fort
TO BOOK: insider.in
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