Cricket: Popular sport
by BeChar
Cricket in India was brought by the British in the early 1700's and is now the most popular sport. In Mumbai I saw cricket occasionally in the street and mainly in parks and on TV.
When I visited Bolzano, Italy, I was surprised by the popularity of base-ball and I notice their similarity, even though the bat and the terrain are much different (good wikipedia page on their comparison). I never paid attention before as cricket and base-ball are not popular here in Belgium.
Lost in translation
by M.E.R.V
Getting lost is part of travelling. Getting lost in Mumbai under midday's heat is horrendous! Mumbai's confusing streets may frustrate even the most well-composed person. Thankfully, in the more touristy spots, there are street maps available on the pavement and tourist police which may not exactly be helpful since they hardly speak any English. If you ever lose your way, your best bet is asking a middle-class local which is easily identifiable by their dressing. A cool drink may help too :P
Swastika Use
by Canadienne
Although the swastika has come to be associated with Hitler and the Nazi regime, it was in use long before that in India.
Svastika, is Sanskrit for "good luck" or well-being." It's a bit disconcerting, at first, to see the symbol on signs or buildings (although the orientation varies slightly from the one Hitler used), but that feeling fades, as the symbol begins to blend into its surroundings.
Siddhi Vinayak Temple
by ashishashar
In India, faith is known to move mountains. Rich and poor, educated and unlettered, they Indians all converge at temples and churches and mosques to offer their destinies to the Divine. Nowhere is this more evident than at Siddhi Vinayak, a temple devoted to Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of Good Fortune. On auspicious Tuesdays, the serpentine queue of worshippers is over 2kms long. People stand for several hours with offerings of flowers and coconut, waiting patiently for a two minute 'Darshan' or meeting with the Lord. The path to the divine is never easy, but it is said that those who tread it with true devotion will always have their wishes fulfilled.
Bombay has some wonderful Art...
by cyrus_irani
Bombay has some wonderful Art Deco architecture and design, most of it swallowed up by the overwhelming urban congestion. My favorites include the Eros Theatre, and the Citibank building (near Fountain) the latter which features a massive elephant head on the front of the building (on the right side of this picture).
I recommend a great book called 'Fort Walks'. I bought my copy at Strand Book Stall,located on Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Rd, also close to 'Fountain'.