Residents of the suburb will organise a four-day festival from May 1 to May 4

Localised festivals seem to have caught the fancy of Mumbaikars. After Bandra, it is now the residents of Andheri who will celebrate their neighbourhood. A four-day festival called Apli Andheri with the theme ‘Where Communities Meet’ will be held from May 1 to 4.

The idea for Apli Andheri was inspired by the Kalaghoda and Celebrate Bandra festivals. Gilroy Misquitta, a member of the organising committee and Marol East Indian Association, said, “Andheri residents wanted to have their own festival that would tell something about the suburb. This place is very vibrant. There are over 15 Advanced Locality Managements (ALMs) and associations that will participate and more are expected to join. “

Viju Augustine, another committee member and member of Military Road residents’ welfare association (MRRWA), said, “We approached the local MLA with the idea of the festival and he was quite interested in the idea.”

The festival, which was earlier scheduled in the first week of February, has been delayed. “We have been mulling over the idea for the last seven months but we could not start it for various reasons. The idea is to have festivals round the year in the city to attract more tourists,” said local MLA and tourism minister Suresh Shetty.

Shetty has also roped in the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to head as well as fund the programme. Alka Vanage, senior manager, events, festivals and exhibitions, said, “MTDC is promoting the event for the first time. We think areas like Bandra, Versova and Andheri can be developed as tourist destinations if we encourage such events.”

MTDC has hired Fountainhead — the same event management company that managed Celebrate Bandra. According to Vanage, a footfall of 5,000 people is expected. “Since summers have started, many people would be going on vacation. But as the festival covers both Andheri East and West, we are expecting a good response.

Moreover, people can watch the performances free-of-cost,” said Vanage. MTDC has, however, not yet arrived at the total cost of the project.

Said Neale Murray, managing director of Fountainhead, “There is a good mix of folk and western performances. We will ensure adequate publicity through posters and billboards.”
s_ashutosh@dnaindia.net