People and Culture
A resident of Bombay is called a Bombaykar, Bombayte or Bombayite. Many residents live close to major railway stations for easy access to their workplaces, as a significant amount of time is spent on daily commuting. Thus, many live a fast-paced life. Bombay's appetizing foods and cuisines have been influenced by the rich but not too spicy styles of cooking from the surrounding Maharashtra and Gujarat states. Some of the unique and famous palatable specialties include Dhan Sak, Khicheri, Bombli Batata Bhaji, Kamag Kakri, Solachi Kadhi, Min Vela Curry and Curried Bombay Duck. Local roadside fast food includes vada pav, panipuri, paav bhaji, and bhelpuri.
Bombay is the birthplace of Indian cinema (Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundations with his silent movies followed by his Marathi talkies), with the oldest film broadcast here in the early 20th century. Bombay also boasts of large number of cinemas, including the world's largest IMAX dome theatre, which feature mainstream Bollywood, Marathi and Hollywood movies. Many film festivals are avidly attended throughout the year. Besides catering to cinephiles, the city has a thriving theatrical tradition in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, English and other regional languages.
Contemporary art is well-represented in both government funded art spaces and private commercial galleries. The government-funded art galleries include The Jehangir Art Gallery and The National Gallery of Modern Art. Built in 1833, the Asiatic Society of Bombay is the oldest public library in the city. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is a renowned museum in the heart of South Bombay near the Gateway of India which houses rare and ancient exhibits of Indian history. Bombay also has a very popular zoo named Jijamata Udyaan which also harbours a beauteous garden within its boundaries. The city of Bombay is home to many well known Indian poets.
Bombay has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves. The Western Railways is also planning to make a proposal to the UNESCO to include the Churchgate building in the list of World Heritage Sites. Popular places in the city are Nariman Point, Chowpatti Beach, Juhu Beach, and Marine Drive. Essel World is an international-style theme park and amusement centre situated close to Gorai Beach. Asia's largest theme water park, Water Kingdom, is also located in Bombay.
Ganesh Chaturthi, a popular festival in the city
Bombay residents celebrate Western and Indian festivals with great fanfare. Festivals and celebrations are observed by residents of all communities and religions. Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Navratri, Good Friday, Eid, Dussera, Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and Maha Shivratri are some of the most popular festivals in the city. The Kala Ghoda Festival is an exhibition of a world of arts that encapsulates works of artistes in the fields of music, dance, theater, film and all the genres of art that make for the vibrantly rich culture of Bombay. A week long fair known as the Bandra Fair or the Mount Mary Festival is celebrated by people of all faiths. The Banganga Festival is a two-day music festival, held annually in the month of January which is organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) at the historic Banganga Tank in Bombay. The Elephanta Festival which is celebrated every February on the Elephanta Islands, is dedicated to the classical Indian Dance and Music with artists from across the country converging on the occasion conjuring a mesmerizing atmosphere on this picturesque island.