ClayAcosta at 21:17, 3 May 2026

2026-05-03T21:17:54Z

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{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2020}}
[[File:The_Taj_Mahal_Palace_Hotel_and_Gateway_of_India_-_2.jpg|thumb|The [[Gateway of India]] (foreground) and [[The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel|Taj Mahal Palace Hotel]] (background).]]
A resident of [[Mumbai]] is called a ''[[Mumbaikar]]''. People prefer to stay close to a railway station for easy access to the [[metropolis]]. Many city-dwellers lead a fast-paced life with very little time for other activities owing to a significant amount of time spent on daily commuting.

==Language==
[[Marathi language|Marathi]] is the official language spoken in Mumbai.

==Cuisine==
{{See also|Street food of Mumbai}}
[[File:Pav Bhaji.jpg|thumb|Pav Bhaji|alt=|left]]
[[File:Vada Pavs.jpg|thumb|Vada pav]]
The metropolis has a roadside fast food scene consisting of Maharashtrian [[Pav Bhaji]], [[Vada Pav]]s, [[Dabeli]], [[Panipuri]], [[Bhelpuri]], etc. South Indian and [[Chinese food]] is also popular in the city. Lebanese, Korean, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Mughlai, [[Punjabi cuisine|Punjabi]], [[Malvani cuisine|Mālvani]], and Continental cuisine are also popular in Mumbai.

Mumbai has some of the oldest restaurants in [[India]]. ''Delhi Darbar, Sindhudurg, Highway Gomantak, Samrat, Vitthal Bhelwala, Mahesh Lunch Home, Kailas Parbat,'' ''Aram Vada Pav'', and ''Adarsh'' are some of the oldest restaurants in the city. Mumbai is popular for its roadside food stalls, but it also has many swanky and high-end restaurants and pubs like Wasabi, Indigo, The Zodiac Grill, Aer, etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aaram Vada Pav near CST: Why Mumbaikars queue up daily at this iconic outlet |publisher=The Indian Express |work=The Indian Express |date=2025-05-31 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/around-town-mumbaikars-amar-vada-pav-cst-10040187/ |access-date=2026-05-03}}</ref>

Mumbai's culinary diversity draws many people for the experience. It is very common for one to know Mumbai as a [[street food]] hotspot as it provides variety of flavours. Apart from the sheer variety of food from different cultural influences, Mumbai has [[Street food of Mumbai|Khau Galli]] and [[Chowpatty]] dedicated to fast food and meals alike.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/lifestyle/food-review-city-of-dreams-mumbai-deserves-title-of-street-food-capital-of-india-with-its-tikha-chatpata-and-meetha-swad-1502865241.html|title=Food Review: City of dreams ‘Mumbai’ deserves title of street food capital of India with its ‘tikha, chatpata and meetha swad’|date=2020-03-13|website=The Statesman|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-03|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003001344/https://www.thestatesman.com/lifestyle/food-review-city-of-dreams-mumbai-deserves-title-of-street-food-capital-of-india-with-its-tikha-chatpata-and-meetha-swad-1502865241.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mumbai, being the financial capital, has a large migrant population. Members of the migrating families are working with no other family support, hence ordering food from close by restaurants or calling for pre-packaged meals (dabba as called locally) is an accepted thing. Owing to these recent trends, there have been some online food ordering services that have cropped up.

Tea is the most popular beverage followed by coffee. There are tea stalls in almost all roads and corners. Other drinks include fruit juices and coconut water. [[Irani café]]s are a part of Mumbai's cosmopolitan heritage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4485523.stm|title=India's Iranian cafes fading out|last=Bajoria|first=Jayshree|date=2005-04-27|work=BBC|access-date=2019-10-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008115339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4485523.stm|archive-date=2007-10-08|language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Notable dishes ===
[[Eggs Kejriwal]] was developed in the 1960s in South Mumbai; according to [[Tejal Rao]], it was not well-known outside of that area before the 2010s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Tejal |author-link=Tejal Rao |date=2017-04-06 |title=Egg, Cheese and Toast, Mumbai Style |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/magazine/egg-cheese-and-toast-mumbai-style.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Pav Bhaji|Pav bhaji]], [[vada pav]]s, [[dabeli]], [[panipuri]], and [[bhelpuri]] are other examples of Mumbai dishes.

==Music==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
[[File:NCPA building, Nariman Point, Mumbai.JPG|thumb|[[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)|National Centre for the Performing Arts]] NCPA building, Nariman Point, Mumbai.]]
The [[Marathi language|Marathi]] ''[[koli people|koli]]'' songs, which was the original music of the city, are still heard in many coastal areas in its original form and even in repacked [[Pop music|pop]]/[[party]] [[remix]] forms. The large number of migrants have also brought their own tastes in cuisine, music, films, and literature, both Indian and international. [[Bollywood]] music is the most popular type heard in the city played by the city's shops, taxis, and establishments. [[Indi-pop]], Marathi and Hindi music, [[Indian classical music]], [[rock music|rock]], and [[pop music|international pop music]] have fans in the city. [[Western Classical Music]] too has a following in Mumbai. [http://www.bcoindia.co.in/ The Bombay Chamber Orchestra] (BCO) was founded in 1962. It is the only Indian symphony orchestra that functions and performs on a regular basis with a concert standard of performance. The [[Symphony Orchestra of India]] originated in 2006 and is based in Mumbai. It often performs at the [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)|National Centre for the Performing Arts]]. Mumbai has also produced renowned classical musicians, like [[Zubin Mehta]], who considers Mumbai his hometown.

English music has a following and the city's local English rock base has grown considerably having their own bands. International music from [[Beyoncé Knowles]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Eminem]], and [[Enrique Iglesias]] are popular here and sometimes outsell the Bollywood albums. The rock/metal industry is active and is based in [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]]. Independence Rock, popularly known as I-Rock in [[Mumbai]] and Pune Woodstock of Pune are two of the major rock festivals of the Mumbai-Poona rock circuit.

==Festivals and Events==

=== Religious ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
[[File:Hindu Idol God Of Fortune Ganesh Parade Through Bombay in 1946.jpg|thumb|Immersion of Ganesh idol on the occasion of [[Anant Chaturdashi]] in 1946|alt=]]
Mumbai residents celebrate [[Indian festivals|Indian celebrations and festivals]]. [[Holi]], [[Diwali]], [[Dussera]], [[Ganesh Chaturthi]], [[Muslim holidays|Eid]], [[Moharram]] and [[Maha Shivratri]] are some of the festivals in the city.

[[Ganesh Chaturthi]] is one of the major festivals, celebrated in the city with great fervor. This festival involves the placing of an idol of Lord Ganesha in the house for either 1½, 3,5,7 or 11 days after which it is immersed in the ocean, after a colourful and noisy parade. This festival was started by [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] as a means of unifying all the people and emphasize the need for India's independence from the British. This is primarily celebrated by Maharashtrians, but almost all Mumbaikars participate in one way or another. Here, all the festivals are celebrated with great joy and happiness.

=== Non-Religious ===
Non-religious festivals include the [[Queer Azaadi Mumbai]], Mumbai's annual [[pride parade]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/Thousands-join-LGBTQ-pride-march/article17109713.ece|title=Thousands join LGBTQ pride march|last=Ramachandran|first=Shreya|date=2017-01-28|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=20 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820011549/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/Thousands-join-LGBTQ-pride-march/article17109713.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Nationalistic festivals including the [[Independence Day (India)|Independence day]] are also celebrated.

==Architecture==
[[File:BMC and CST.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Finials of BMC and CST.|Finials of [[Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai|BMC]] and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|CST]].]]{{Main|Architecture of Mumbai}}

=== Colonial ===
In 2004, Mumbai received two heritage conservation awards from the [[UNESCO]]. The [[Marine Drive, Mumbai|Marine Drive]] is home to some of the finest buildings of the art deco<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1480/|title=Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11|archive-date=29 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229235613/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1480/|url-status=live}}</ref> style, (also called ''Indo Deco'' or ''Bombay Deco'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mazumdar |first1=Ronojoy |title=Mumbai’s Iconic Art Deco Buildings Were Made to Conquer Disease |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-30/how-india-s-bombay-deco-buildings-battle-disease |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=Bloomberg News |date=29 October 2020 |language=en |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030103316/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-30/how-india-s-bombay-deco-buildings-battle-disease |url-status=live }}</ref>) which flourished in the 1920s and 1930s. During the British era, the [[Indo-Saracenic]] architecture was the official architecture of the city. Many Indo-Gothic monuments also line [[South Mumbai]] — [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/945/|title=Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11|archive-date=4 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104092615/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/945/|url-status=live}}</ref> BMC building, [[Gateway of India]] are some of this style.

Mumbai has housing structures known as [[Chawl]] ('chaali' in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]). These are the remnants of the once booming cotton mills which provided job opportunities and led to migration of people to Mumbai. Chawls still occupy a large portion of the Mumbai residential area.

=== Post Colonial ===
Modern buildings and skyscrapers dominate the skyline.

==Cinema==
Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema with the oldest film shot in the country in 1896 in the Kala Ghoda area. Many cinemas, including an IMAX dome theatre, catering to mainstream [[Marathi cinema|Marathi]], [[Bollywood]] and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films dot the city. The city contains some old movie theatres like the Plaza, [[New Empire Cinema (Mumbai)]] and New Excelsior. Due to taxation policies of the State Government, it has become more profitable to operate [[Multiplex (movie theater)|Multiplexes]] and so many movie theatres are making way for other developments or interior overhauls. An example of this is Sterling Theatre at [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus]]. [[PVR INOX|INOX]]'s 11 screen [[Multiplex (movie theater)|Megaplex]] at [[Inorbit Mall]] is Mumbai's biggest multiplex.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-12-18 |title=60,000 sq ft, 1,586 seats, 60 shows: INOX brings a global cinema destination to Mumbai with Megaplex |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/60000-sq-ft-1586-seats-60-shows-inox-brings-a-global-cinema-destination-to-mumbai-with-megaplex/articleshow/72863378.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811084431/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/60000-sq-ft-1586-seats-60-shows-inox-brings-a-global-cinema-destination-to-mumbai-with-megaplex/articleshow/72863378.cms |archive-date=11 August 2023 |access-date=2020-04-03 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

The city is also home to film studios. These include [[Film City, Mumbai|Film City]] in [[Goregaon]], and [[Raj Kapoor]]'s R.K. Studios in Chembur, [[Filmistan]], [[Shashadhar Mukherjee]]'s Filmalaya and [[V Shantaram]]'s [[Rajkamal Kalamandir|Rajkamal Studio]].

==Cultural centers==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
Mumbai hosts plays and cultural performances. Some of the theatres are [[Prithvi Theatre]] at [[Juhu]], Dinanath Natyagruha at [[Vile Parle]], Shanmukhananda Hall at [[Matunga]], Prabhodankar Thackeray Theatre at Rang Sharda at [[Bandra]] and the theatres at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), [[Nariman Point]].

=== Museums and Art Galleries ===
There are two public art galleries, The [[Jehangir Art Gallery]] and The [[National Gallery of Modern Art]] and a museum in South Mumbai. The [[Asiatic Society of Bombay]] is the oldest public library in the city, built in 1833.

There are many museums in the city, including [[Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum]], [[Cowasji Jehangir Hall]] and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya]].

The commercial art galleries are mostly located in the Colaba and Fort area of downtown Mumbai. They include Chemould Prescott Road, Pundole, Guild, Sakshi, Mirchandani+Steinrucke, Chatterjee & Lal, and Project 88.

== Sports ==
[[File:'International_competition'_in_the_marathon_passing_through_'worli_Sea-face'_on_Sunday(18-1-2009).jpg|thumb|Runners at the 2009 [[Mumbai Marathon]].]]
Mumbai has hosted several world sports events, including [[1982 Men's Hockey World Cup]], [[2004 Kabaddi World Cup (Standard style)|2004 Kabaddi World Cup]], and matches for the [[1987 Cricket World Cup|1987]], [[1996 Cricket World Cup|1996]], and [[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011]] [[Cricket World Cup|Cricket World Cups]].

The [[Mumbai Marathon]] held annually is one of the largest mass sporting events in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/mumbai-marathon-gets-gold-label/article24956506.ece|title=Mumbai Marathon gets ‘Gold Label’|date=2018-09-15|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=20 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820011549/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/mumbai-marathon-gets-gold-label/article24956506.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mumbai topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mumbai Culture}}
[[Category:Culture of Mumbai| ]]

Culture of Mumbai - Revision history

ClayAcosta at 21:17, 3 May 2026