Marathi is the primary mother tongue and official language of Mumbai, spoken by roughly 35-42% of the population. Due to its status as a diverse, cosmopolitan city, other major languages spoken as mother tongues include Hindi (~26-30%), Gujarati (~11%), and Urdu (~11%), with a widespread, unique blend of Marathi, Hindi, and English (often called Mumbai Hindi or Bambaiya Hindi) acting as the daily lingua franca.
Marathi is the only official language of Mumbai and the native language of this rapidly 'emerging financial hub of India with approximately 42% of the people who speak Marathi. Second comes Hindi in which nearly 30% of the population is fluent.
Marathi is the official language of Maharashtra and additional official language in the state of Goa. In Goa, Konkani is the sole official language; however, Marathi may also be used for any or all official purposes in case any request is received in Marathi.
The most popular way to say hello in Hindi is namaste (नमस्ते), which means “I bow to you.” When you use this greeting, you're acknowledging something special in the person you're meeting. People typically join their palms together in front of their chest and slightly bow their head while saying it.
The Bombay East Indians, also called East Indian Catholics or simply East Indians, are an ethno-religious Indian Christian community native to the Seven Islands of Bombay, the Mumbai Metropolitan Area and the northern Konkan region; along the western coast of India.
What Locals Really Eat in Mumbai (ft. Sanjyot Keer) | Naturally Vegan
How do I reply to namaste?
When someone greets you with 'namaste,' the most common response is to say 'namaste' back. This mirrors the respect and acknowledgment given to you. If you're not comfortable using the term, it's perfectly okay to respond with a simple hello or your usual greeting.
India recognizes 22 official languages in its Constitution's Eighth Schedule, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri (Meitei), Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu, reflecting the nation's vast linguistic diversity, with Hindi and English serving broader roles in central government.
Common Hindi words and phrases include greetings like 'Namaste' for hello and 'Dhanyavaad' for thank you. These basic terms are essential for beginners learning Hindi and help in everyday communication.
Demographics. In 1969, the Mahars constituted about 70% of the total Scheduled Caste population and also represented about 9% of population of the state of Maharashtra. Mahar is numerically the largest Scheduled Caste in Maharashtra, according to the 2001 Census of India.
The UN defines mother tongue as "the language usually spoken in the individual's home in his or her early childhood". This standard adds the additional criterion that the person still understands the language.
In many metropolitan areas, including Mumbai and Pune, fast food is popular. The most-popular forms are bhaji, vada pav, misalpav and pav bhaji. More-traditional dishes are sabudana khichadi, pohe, upma, sheera and panipuri.
Professor Joefe Santarita, dean of the University of the Philippines Asian Center and an expert on Indian Studies, said scholars believe the term "Bumbay" came from Bombay (or Mumbai), the place of departure of most Punjabis and Sikhs who have migrated to the Philippines.
Mumbai is famous for its handmade fabrics, textiles and jewellery. One can also shop at the markets like Chor Bazaar for knick knacks like antique clocks, wooden furnishings and paintings. A main reason to visit Mumbai is the food.
The three-language policy - under which Hindi is now the default third language in Maharashtra - is part of the federal government's revised National Education Policy from 2020.
**: Tamil has older attested written records (3rd century BCE vs. 4th century CE for Kannada), making it the oldest in terms of documented literature. However, both languages stem from Proto-Dravidian, a hypothesized ancestor spoken around 4,000–5,000 years ago.
The Indian constitution, in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. Unless Parliament decided otherwise, the use of English for official purposes was to cease 15 years after the constitution came into effect, that is, on 26 January 1965.
And Maharashtra scores pretty well with its tally of 12 varieties of Marathi and 38 other languages spoken by adivasis, tribals, nomadic tribes and denotified communities.
Allah Says in Quran : (When you enter the house, then greet one another with the greeting from Allah, blessed and nice.) Sura 24, verse 61. 'Muslim should greet Muslims with the greeting of Allah which is Salam and never use the greetings of non Muslims when greetings Muslims.
Namaste (Sanskrit pronunciation: [nɐmɐsteː], Devanagari: नमस्ते), sometimes called namaskār and namaskāram, is a customary Hindu manner of respectfully greeting and honouring a person or group, used at any time of day. It is used worldwide among the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions.
Whether Christians can say "namaste" is debated, with some viewing it as a way to honor the "God in you" (seeing the divine image in others) and a way to show cultural respect, while others argue it's rooted in Hinduism's pantheistic beliefs, conflicts with Christian monotheism (bowing only to God), and could be seen as idolatrous or promoting false spirituality, suggesting alternatives like "Peace be with you" or "God bless you". The core issue is interpreting the phrase's meaning within a Christian worldview, with some finding it compatible with recognizing the Imago Dei (Image of God) and others finding it inherently incompatible with Christian doctrine.
Here is the list of the top safest Indian cities according to the mid-2025 Numbeo Safety Index: 1. Mangalore, Karnataka - Safety Index: 74.2, Crime Index: 25.8 (Global rank: 49) 2. Vadodara, Gujarat - Safety Index: 69.2, Crime Index: 30.8 (Global rank: 85) 3.
New Delhi is called Mini India because people from all parts of India come to live here. It is a city where many cultures, languages, and traditions of India come together. This diversity makes New Delhi a small version of the whole country, hence the name Mini India.
