Fish out those dandiya sticks, shop for colourful new chaniya cholis and kurtas and rewatch the music video of dholi tharo, so you get those moves right. The festival of Navratri is around the corner and it’s time to immerse yourself in the festivities by dancing all night long for nine days straight at one of Mumbai’s many garba and dandiya events. Featuring iconic celebrity singers, mouthwatering food and infectious music, Navratri 2024 in Mumbai is set to be euphoric.
1. Navratri Utsav with Falguni Pathak
So what if you couldn’t score Coldplay tickets? The Queen Of Dandiya will Fix You, me and everyone in Mumbai when she performs in South Mumbai this Navratri. Expect larger-than-life performances with garba anthems like ‘Yaad Piya Ki’ and ‘Indhana Winva’ blare through the stadium-style indoor arena’s state-of-the-art music system in Falguni Pathak’s dulcet voice.
📍: NSCI Dome, SVP stadium, Worli
📅: October 13
🎟️: Tickets from INR 499 per person
2. Radiance Festival Mumbai
One of neighbouring state Gujrat’s top Navratri festivals is making its way to Mumbai’s BKC area this year with much fanfare. The indoor event will accommodate 5,000 plus dandiya dancers into the early hours of dawn all 9 days of Navratri. When you’ve tired yourself from twirling around in intricately choreographed garba circles, fuel up with delicious Navratri food included in the ticket.
📍: Jio World Convention Centre
📅: October 3-11
🎟️: INR 850 per person
3. MBCA Dandiya Night
Some Bollywood glamour enters this Navratri celebration in Bandra featuring performances by musical duo Meet Brothers, the artists behind songs like Baby Doll, Cham Cham and Chittiyan Kalaiyaan. Joining them on the grand stage will be voices you’ve heard and loved like Mamta Sharma of Munni Badnam fame, Chetan Fefar and Sandipa Dutta. This three-day event promises high-end security and endless entertainment.
📍: WeWork Enam Sambhav, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex
📅: October 9-11, 7pm onwards
🎟️: Tickets from INR 499 per person
4. Navratri Night at Rule 34
This Kandivali nightspot goes trad this October to ring in Navratri. The music won’t stop until 1am, playing the best dandiya and garba beats. The ticket price includes one dish from their special menu.
📍: Charkop Industrial Estate, Kandivali West
📅: October 3-12, 10pm-1am
🎟️: Tickets from INR 499 per person
📞: Call +91 93249 67621 or +91 93249 67629
5. Rang Raas Navratri
Indian Idol 5 Runner-up and the husky voice behind hits like ‘Raam Chahe Leela’, Bhoomi Trivedi will be belting out classic Gujarati folk songs at this Navratri celebration in Borivali and bringing the raas-leela vibes. Other artists performing at this event that describes itself as a trendy dandiya night are Mumbai-based DJ band Ambar Desai and singer Alka Mandakini. There’ll be opportunities to win spot prizes mid-dancing.
📍: Kanti Park, Chikoowadi, Borivali West
📅: October 3-12; from 7pm-10pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 500 per person
6. Rangilo Re
Mumbai’s largest indoor Garba event returns for its 6th edition with playback sing Parthiv Gohil as the headliner. You know him from songs like the dreamy ‘Yoon Shabnami’ in the film Saawariya or his stellar repertoire of vocals in Gujarati cinema. Hear him mesmerise you with infectious songs that will have you dancing all night to celebrate the goddess. The air-conditioned venue accommodates 16,000 dancers comfortably and has food halls and parking too.
📍: NESCO Hall 4, Mumbai
📅: October 3-11; from 7pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 699 per person
7. Raas Rang 2024
This annual high-octane dandiya and garba festival returns to rock Thane in 2024 with a 10-day schedule of music, dance, prayers and fun. Dhol Kings Hanif and Aslam along with Gujrati singer Umesh Barot will kick off the reveleries. Singers Dravita Choksi Oberoi, Firoz Ladka, Heli Majumdar and Rupali Kashyap’s rendition of soulful devotional songs and foot-tapping garba numbers will ensure you’re always on 1lakh square feet wooden platform dance floor.
📍: Octroi Ground Kopri Thane
📅: October 3-12; from 7pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 300 per person
📞: Visit Raas Rang website for info
8. Raas Leela Navratri Festival
The only outdoor Navratri festival in SoBo is kicking off at the Radio Club this October. Join the fun at the Garba Nights with entry passes for single women, single men and couples and dance under the stars with Gateway of India views. Hashtagged #GarbaByTheBay, these celebrations run five hours daily all 9 days; traditional Gujarati bands and singers will pump up the energy and keep you dancing.
📍: The Bombay Presidency Radio Club
📅: October 3-11; from 7pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 499 per person
9. Khar Danda Tradional Navratra Utsav
This dandiya event in the village on the Salsette island off Bandra is the most affordable celebration we’ve come across this Navratra season. It’s less than INR 50 per person and includes live folk music, food stalls, garba, cultural performances and arts and crafts corners for kids. This one’s perfect for a fun family day out celebrating tradition.
📍: Khar Danda Holi Shimga Fest
📅: October 3-11; from 10pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 49 per person
10. Kora Kendra Navratri 2024
This suburban Navratri event by the Naidu Club rolls out the red carpet with a ton of amenities like locker facilities to store valuables, a spacious 1 lakh square feet dance floor for garba and dandiya, a separate seating area for senior citizens and appearances by Bollywood stars throughout the nine days. A temple of the goddess Amba Mata will be present on the premises for those who want to offer prayers.
📍: Kora Kendra Ground, Borivali West
📅: October 3-11; from 6:30pm
🎟️: Tickets from INR 450 per person
📞: Call 9769385111 for passes