Local traditions and culture in Mumbai

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People sleep everywhere.
It appeared to be a custom there, probably due to the warmth (everyday 30-32°C in december), the large population and the fact that people spend much time in the street.

No wonder that dogs behave the same !

Sari reflects women's style, grace, sense and elegant. Sari enhances an increases the beauty, personality and importance as a lady. It is important to drape a Sari in proper manner so as to look perfectly dressed. Properly dressed Sari has greater appearance.

Few Tips on Wearing a Saree: -

Slim women should wear Cotton Sari , Tissue Sari , Tapeta Silk Sari , Tussar silk Sari , so that they may look beautiful, attractive and Healthy.

Healthy women should wear Georgette Sari , Chignon Sari , Maysoor silk Sari , or Chiffon Sari so that they may look beautiful, attractive and slim.

Shorter women should wear the Sari with small borders or no borders and in dressed position the lining on Sari , if so, should appear horizontal to the earth so that they may look beautiful, attractive and tall.

Longer women should wear the Sari with big borders and in dressed position the lining, if so, on Sari should appear parallel to the earth so that they may look beautiful and attractive.

Fair complexion women should wear dark color Sari so that they may look beautiful, attractive.

Dark complexion women should wear light color Sari so that they may look beautiful, attractive.

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University of Mumbai (UM) or Mumbai University (MU) is a multi-campus university, but the original campus is in Fort, Mumbai, near the southern end of the city of Mumbai. It houses the administrative division of the university. It is built in the Gothic style of architecture and also includes a library which holds many original manuscripts. The University of Bombay was established at the Fort Campus in 1857. In the same year universities were established in the two other Presidency towns of Calcutta and Madras. It was one of the first educational institutions established by the British in India following Sir Charles Wood's Dispatch on Education in 1854. Alumni include Mahatama Ghandi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and many other distinguished leaders and faculty now resident in the United States and Europe. Visitors to this part of Mumbai will frequently see students in the streets and the gothic style colonial architecture in the background.

The climate in Mumbai is mostly made up of two seasons. Humid (between March to October) and dry (between November to February). The monsoon time is usually between June and September when most of they incur most of the cities rainfall. Annual temperatures range from a high of 38C (100F) to a low of 11C (52F). I was there early April and it was definitely hot but not oppressive. I don’t think the humidity had kicked in. If you are not happy with the heat then the best time to visit would be the winter time.

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Like the Coconut milk drinks, sugar cane is also very popular. Street vendors operate manual crushers and extract the juice from matured cane. The juice deteriorates fairly quickly so it cannot be stored for more than a couple of hours. Street vendors are certainly not the most hygienic places to try this drink, better to get from a hotel or restaurant

On the street you will often see the Coconut vendor selling juice. The top is knocked off the top of the coconut with a swipe of a machete type knife and a straw is inserted reading for drinking. Apparently the way in which the coconut is cut is only done this way in Mumbai... not sure what the difference is.

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Bombay Duck (and I really don’t think you can convert that to Mumbai Duck) is also known as Bummalo. It is not in fact a duck but a lizardfish and is native to the waters between Mumbai and Kutch in the Arabian Sea. The fish is most often dried and salted before being eaten. Because of its pungent smell after drying, they are usually transport in sealed containers. Despite the strong odour, it is often considered a delicacy by experts of Indian cuisine. Sometimes it is also eaten fried in batter in its dried form or in curries. The bones are not a worry as they are soft and easily chewable.

The legacy of dance in India is tremendous. On temple walls, on an urban stage, in impromptu outbursts by a mellow evening fire, men and women twinkle their toes in expressions of joy.

The classical dances of India are numerous. Characterised by stylised movements and elaborate costumes, these dances communicate age-old tales of love, longing and rage. As in most things in India, myth and legend find expression here too, as the epic tales of Ramayana and the Mahabharata are brought to life in nritya.

Kathak of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Kathakali and Mohiniattam of Kerala, Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri from Manipur and Odissi from Orissa are the prominent classical dance forms in this country that sways to an altogether novel beat. The robust bhangra of Punjabi men, the graceful whirling of Rajasthani women, the gentle sway of northeastern dancers, vigorous tribal dances - every corner has developed its own unique form.