Terror blues over, Mumbai ready to party this New Yr

Fiona D’Souza, a resident of St Anthony Road, used to have a small carol singing on her terrace. This year, the venue has shifted to the road since ‘‘enough people are participating’’. ‘‘The mood is upbeat. Around 500 people will assemble and sing carols. Our street looks like it’s holding a carnival,’’ says D’Souza.

The hotel industry saw a dip in customer traffic last year, following attacks on the WTC, Parliament and the war in Afghanistan.

However, things have looked up since. Partha Chatterjee, Director (Sales) at Taj Mahal Hotel, gives credit to the changed global situation, saying: ‘‘This Christmas the occupancy in our hotel is more than 100 per cent. Business has looked up after the slump last year.

Bandra Gymkhana, the hub of East Indians in Mumbai, is also revelling in the changed mood. ‘‘The Gymkhana has joined its members and the citizens at large in celebrating the festival. We expect a lot of visitors in the next few days,’’ says Dallace Pereira of the Gymkhana.

If the gymkhanas are full, so are shopping centres. Shopping festivals, promotional sales and prizes are on offer. Take Shoppers’ Stop, which has launched the India Shopping Festival (December 13-January 26, 2003), on the lines of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Says Ajay Kelkar, senior manager (Marketing Services), Shoppers’ Stop: ‘‘The improved politico-economic situation has helped build up a positive mood.’’

Lawrence D’Souza, a Mahim resident, is taking leave and setting off to Goa to ‘‘celebrate New Year’’.

If you want to party, event managers are only glad to bail you out. Take Rodfer, which has organised a 11-day (December 21-31) extravaganza at Roads Hotel, Powai. Called Chalo Zwigs Masti Karne, music, dance and singing programmes are lined up. So you have Habibi Habibi Night, Mustafa Mustafa Night, Rocking Towards the Christmas Tree, leading up to The Final Countdwon Night. And no one minds it if Rodfer is charging as much as Rs 2,400 per couple.

Kids too have much to choose from. If Oxford Bookstore has organised kids’ carnivals and other events, Bombay Store has kiddy events like shows of clowns, jugglers, magicians and mime artistes.

Says Shefali Virani of Bombay Store, ‘‘We are seeing an increasing number of customers this year because more people are travelling now. A huge chunk of our customers comprise foreign tourists who visit Mumbai this time of the year. “