Girgaon Gudi Padwa 2023 Shobha Yatra Women Rally On Bikes – Mumbai

“Mark the date, 22nd March 2023 when Mumbai’s Girgaon area welcomes Gudi Padwa, The Hindu new year (Specially Maharashtrian Community) with Shobha yatra, A procession featuring Women riding Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles. This Rally or Procession as said is a major attraction of Gudi Padwa festival day in Mumbai.

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What makes this festival special is the overall crowd wearing traditional Maharashtrian outfits like Kurta Pyjamas, Pheta and Pagdi (Headwear). On this occasion, females wear authentic & traditional Nauvari Saree, Nose, Ears and Neck accessories as they are the main leaders of the rally.

Let’s get into the loop and excitement of Girgaum (Girgaon) Gudi padwa rally that welcomes every new year in a perfect Mumbai style..”

Gorgaon Shobha Yatra Photos

All these Lovely Pictures Courtesy : Hemen Khatri (HK Shots).

Women Bike Rally Attractions

This is the biggest and oldest Shobha Yatra rally in Mumbai which is a combo pack of Fun, Excitement, Women’s Power and Cultural Procession.

Few Videos

The roadshow is celebrated by the Maharashtrian community people of Girgaon Mumbai along with others coming together in multiple groups from famous locations like Thane, Dombivli, Dadar and Suburbans like Vile Parle and Malad.

Together they join women’s bike rallies, Seen also in couples wearing authentic dresses only as it is focused on Women bikers in Girgaon and is the main attraction of this one-day event.

It is a way to celebrate and welcome Marathi New Year with a high-energy fun rally and a positive message to the city year after year with the main attraction of this rally being the Women-centric approach that leads these processions.

Although men & women are both together and are also in groups, much is focused on the beautiful looking Maharashtrian women & girls group who rides the macho Royal Enfield bikes wearing authentic Nauvari saree and those accessories that give the ‘Kadak & Jhakkas’ maratha impression, A unique looks one must see.

Women of every age, From kids to teenage students to working-class gears up for the best traditional outfits with varieties of headgear like Pheta and Pagdi that match their saree. That’s not just all, Equally matching gold and artificial Jewellery. those traditional Nathnis (Nose Wear), Gold Bangles, varieties of Earrings and the master blaster of all, the classic aviator sunglasses that gives that Jhakaas looks and also cut off that scorching heat of the sun. That unmatched looks nowhere around the world.

Not just by riding bullet bikes, Women also lead this rally for other things too. They dance and play Lezim, Which is a special folk dance using the probe called ‘Lezim’ that is seen in hand.

Not just dance & lezim, They are the ones seen walking this Shobha Yatra rally carrying those heavy musical instruments like Dhol (A Huge Drum) and the classic Tasha (It’s a smaller version of a Drum played with 2 sticks and needs quickness to create that WOW musical effects). Various group & varieties of ‘Dhol Tasha Pathak‘ is one of the main attractions of this rally.

The very Iconic performance of Maharashtra, ‘The Mallakhamb’ is another attraction of this roadshow of Mumbai, Done by kids and young age groups. Ganesh Idol and Huge statues of ‘Bharat Mata’ (Representing the Mother of India) are seen. Huge rangoli on Girgaon roads is ready to welcome the Shobha yatra groups from around Mumbai city.

A great Maratha Warrior ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji’ look-alike with a perfect outfit can also be seen with special focus. These are just a few of the main attractions to be listed, Yet the excitement of Shobha Yatra can be felt when one is personally present and enjoying every moment around.

So, If you really want to see how a Maharashtrian woman looks in her traditional outfit Nauvari Saree and other accessories, Men in white kurtas and pheta with orange (Bhagwa) colour all around, Girgaon lanes are the only places for Gudi padwa, The Marathi language speaking people new year festive occasion.

These bike riders aren’t just housewives, They are Professionals like doctors, engineers and many others from various fields who practice riding bullet bikes many months prior to the Gudi padwa day to give their best performance.

Every year selfies and lovely colourful photographs go viral on Social media (Especially on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter) in no time. All male members like husbands, fathers and brothers of leading ladies wear kurta pyjamas and play a key supporting role in making this hours event successful and feel proud looking at the ‘Nari Shakti’ (Women Empowerment) of this rally. They walk along the side cheering up and motivating their family members, friends and wife.

Shobha Yatra Location, Timings & More

On the auspicious day of the Gudi Padwa festival, Every year in March starting around 7:00 Am to 7:30 Am, Groups from all over Mumbai and suburban starts gathering at Girgaon’s famous Phadke Ganesh Temple near Sikka Nagar (the Nearest station is Charni Road), And after flagging up the Gudi the procession starts at around 8:00 Am.

Shobha Yatra then moves ahead to ‘Girgaon Church’ junction area further heading to ‘Thakurdwar Chowk’ and finally reaches the destination ‘Chira Bazaar’ in mid-afternoon at around 3:00 Pm.

Women Biker always leads the rally in groups, Dhol Tasha Players in the Middle and Lezim dancers follow them with a few trucks (Nicely decorated) showcasing the theme of the year and few positive messages to spread around Mumbai city and now reaching world. Women empowerment and Clean and Green Mumbai was the focused theme initially during year 2016 and 2017. A few free goodies are also distributed to people joins the rally.

After 11:00 in the morning, The march heat is not easy to move ahead with probes, Heavy sarees, Kids, Dhol Tasha, Dance performances and other things on a roadshow. But the excitement is so high that nobody feels exhausted and water & refreshment arrangements are always available.

Mumbai police, Drones keep close eye on rally and people around to make sure of security arrangements throughout rally.

Women have a god gift to stand by strongly mentally as well as physically as and when required and so the guarded string Women bikers rally to celebrate this Hindu new year, A perfect idea that can be seen only in Girgaon.

How to Take Part in The Rally ?

Organizers of the Shobha Yatra rally have a set of rules to be followed and a few forms to be filled out to be part of the main attraction. Spectators along the procession need not require any formalities and get to be with a crowd, enjoying and cheering up other members.

Want to take part in Shobha Yatra 2023? Reach Girgaon early morning for this yatra rally and enjoy the festive moments by clicking pictures of one kind of great Maratha culture in Mumbai Style.

See Also : Chowpatty Beach, Major Festivals in Mumbai.