Maharashtra to spend RS 25 cr for Mumbai Fest

Mumbai: Maharashtra government will spend Rs 25 crore for the nine-day Mumbai Festival in January, state Tourism Minister Girish Mahajan said on Thursday. The mega event to be held between January 20-28, 2024, is an amalgam of a slew of already popular events like the Kalaghoda Festival and Tata Mumbai Marathon. The festival is an attempt to cherish the unity and inclusivity of the financial capital, which is often referred to as a melting pot even though it has a history of communal strife. Mahajan said the city is home to people from all the major religions and has always welcomed people. Billionaire Anand Mahindra, who has been roped in as the chairperson of the advisory committee, said the city has a long history of using festivals for larger causes like Ganpati for the freedom struggle, and the upcoming festivals also have a larger purpose beyond tourism and fun.