Amid festivity, people plan getaways

While most Mumbaiites will decorate their houses, go pandal-hopping or collect Eidi this weekend, several are making a beeline out of the city for a weekend break.

While most Mumbaiites will decorate their houses, go pandal-hopping or collect Eidi this weekend, several are making a beeline out of the city for a weekend break.

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The holiday weekend is one of the longest in the calendar year.

Ayush Agarwal, project engineer at Oilmax Energy, has booked a camping trip to Kolad for the weekend. “I want to get away from the traffic and rush,” he said

Travel companies are cashing in. Ecomantra Nature Adventures has organised a weekend camp called ‘river trail camp’, two hours away from Mumbai.

Maharukh Ulsara, co-founder of Ecomantra, said: “We have been receiving a lot of calls for weekend trips. The long weekend has made it convenient for people to travel and be part of the in the festivities.”

People also want to enjoy what remains of the monsoon. “I am off for a trek to Naneghat. It’s the end of the monsoon and I want to make the most of it,” said Nilesh Patil, a member of Trek Mates, India.

While some get out of town to relax, there are families who leave town just to celebrate the Ganesh festival.

Amita Raj, a homemaker, is going to Alibaug.

“In Alibaug, the festival very different from Mumbai’s. There is lesser noise and pollution. While the festival is not as big as Mumbai’s, it is still rooted in tradition,” Raj added.