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When Culture Meets Celebration: Inside Navi Mumbai’s High-Energy Hariyali Teej
Over 130 women gathered for an afternoon of music, Solah Shringar, and uninhibited celebration proving that keeping culture alive doesn’t mean staying stuck in the past.
The Event
If you walked into the hall this week, the first thing that hit you wasn’t just the rhythmic thrum of live dhol beats or the rich aroma of festive food. It was the sheer energy in the air a sea of vibrant greens, glinting jewelry, and laughter that easily carried over the music.
For its third consecutive year, U N MI Entertainment, led by founder Garima Sharma in collaboration with Amol Juneja, hosted its annual Hariyali Teej Celebration. But calling it just a cultural event misses the point. For the 135-plus women who showed up dressed in full Solah Shringar, it was an afternoon carved out entirely for themselves: a rare chance to step away from daily routines, let their hair down, and celebrate life alongside friends old and new.
While Teej is traditionally rooted in the mythological reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the arrival of the monsoon, the gathering seamlessly blended deep-rooted customs with modern flair. Traditional decorated swings (jhulas) sat alongside high-energy dance floors and a lively pageantry showcase.
“Only you can keep yourself happy. Nobody else is going to do it for you so be happy, keep smiling, and cherish your friends.” — Guest Speaker, addressing the room
“A Modern Way to Hold On to Our Roots”
For many attendees and guest speakers, the highlight was how natural the celebration felt, balancing sacred traditions with today’s social lifestyle.
“Garima has brought women across Navi Mumbai together under one roof,” shared Astrohealer Prammit Ssinha, a long-time guest at the event. “In an era where modern trends often pull us away from tradition, using an engaging, modern approach to reconnect people with our Sanatan roots through U N MI is truly commendable.”
Long-time supporters also noted how the event has matured over the years into a warm, welcoming network.
- Rohini Salunke (Founder, Ecomatic Ventures): “I’ve been associated with Garima for five years now, attending her functions every year. It’s always so much fun to be around this group and get to know everyone.”
- Nutan Gaikwad (Director, Aarambh Sanstha): “Garima consistently creates a platform where women can refresh themselves, play games, enjoy the swings, and just be happy together.”
- Chef & Numerologist Neeru Arora: “This was my first time judging here, and everything was executed so seamlessly. The energy in the room was contagious.”
Crowned in Green: The Pageant Winners
Between the dancing, fine dining, and networking, the afternoon featured a pageant competition judged by notable figures, including Heena Mukadam (Winner, Ayesha Mrs. India).
The room erupted in applause as the titleholders were announced:
Award Title Winner
- Teej Queen – Divya Bisht
- 1st Winner – Tulsi
- 2nd Runner-Up – Tina Kanle
For the winners, the recognition was icing on the cake. “The event was packed with energy—from the live dhol to the food. Everything was done so thoughtfully,” shared newly crowned Teej Queen, Divya Bisht.
Looking Ahead
As the music slowed and women snapped their final group selfies before heading home, organizer Garima Sharma reflected on the turnout.
“Seeing the excitement the shopping, the effort everyone put into getting ready for U N MI’s event is what makes this special,” Garima Sharma said. “Social media helps us connect initially, but events like this build real relationships. We’re already planning how to make next year’s gathering even bigger.”
For a festival that marks the arrival of greenery and renewal, the afternoon proved that traditions don’t survive by staying on a shelf they thrive when communities gather to dance through them.
Home sales fell 6% in the July–September quarter, while Navi Mumbai recorded a 12% rise in demand.
The Dip
The housing market across India’s major cities saw a slowdown in the July–September quarter, but Navi Mumbai stood out with a rise in home sales.
According to a PropEquity report, housing sales across nine major cities fell by 6% year-on-year, with around 1.03 lakh homes sold during the quarter. Several major markets recorded a decline, including Pune, Chennai, Thane, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR.
Navi Mumbai, however, moved in the opposite direction. The city recorded a 12% increase in housing sales, with around 9,810 units sold, compared with 8,730 units during the same period last year. Hyderabad also reported an increase, while Bengaluru remained almost stable. The growth in Navi Mumbai comes despite the broader slowdown in the housing market.
New housing launches also declined during the quarter, indicating that developers are becoming more cautious about adding fresh inventory. Across the nine cities, about 98,165 new housing units were launched, lower than the previous year. Industry experts said the July–September period is generally affected by the monsoon, which can temporarily slow homebuying activity. The festive season from October onwards is expected to bring renewed interest from buyers, with developers likely to introduce new projects and promotional offers.
For Navi Mumbai, the rise in sales highlights continued demand for housing in the region, even as buyers in several other major cities remained more cautious.
Thousands of devotees bid an emotional farewell to Bappa as civic teams ensured smooth and safe immersion arrangements.
The Visarjans
Navi Mumbai witnessed a grand and emotional conclusion to the 10-day Ganeshotsav as 8,573 Ganesh idols were immersed across the city on Anant Chaturdashi.
The immersion process continued through the night and was completed at around 5:30 a.m., with devotees turning up in large numbers to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha. Despite the crowds, the arrangements helped the process continue smoothly.
According to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the idols were immersed at 189 designated locations. These included 22 natural immersion sites and 156 artificial ponds. Of the total idols, 8,125 were household Ganesh idols, while 448 belonged to public Ganesh mandals. The civic body deployed lifeguards, volunteers, fire brigade personnel, medical teams and other staff at various locations. CCTV cameras, barricades, lighting, drinking water and first-aid facilities were also arranged to assist devotees.
The celebrations also saw citizens opting for more environmentally friendly practices. Around 1,420 Shadu clay idols were immersed, while artificial ponds helped reduce pressure on natural water bodies. NMMC workers also collected around 10.95 tonnes of nirmalya, including flowers and other offerings. The collected material was sent for composting instead of being dumped.
The peaceful conclusion of the immersion was made possible through the cooperation of devotees, volunteers and civic workers, bringing this year’s Ganeshotsav to a heartfelt close across Navi Mumbai.
Heavy vehicles and ongoing infrastructure work slow traffic at one of Navi Mumbai’s busiest junctions.
The Jam
Traffic congestion at Kalamboli Junction has become a growing concern for motorists, with long queues and slow-moving traffic affecting commuters travelling through the area.
Kalamboli is an important connecting point for vehicles heading towards Mumbai, Pune, Panvel, JNPT and Uran. The junction handles a heavy mix of cars, buses and container trucks throughout the day. The increasing traffic volume has frequently resulted in delays, particularly during peak hours.
Ongoing infrastructure work around the junction has added to commuters’ difficulties. Diversions and changes in traffic movement have narrowed available routes in some stretches, making the daily journey more time-consuming.
For many commuters, a trip that normally takes a short time can now stretch considerably longer. Truck movement and vehicles merging from different directions further add to the pressure at the junction. Authorities are working on a major improvement project aimed at easing the situation. The plan includes flyovers, an underpass and a multi-level interchange that is expected to improve traffic movement and reduce dependence on signals once completed.
In the meantime, commuters are hoping for better traffic management and clearer diversions to reduce the daily inconvenience. With Kalamboli continuing to handle increasing traffic from several major highways, the junction remains a key focus for efforts to improve connectivity and ease congestion in Navi Mumbai.
Housing Sales Dip Across Major Cities, But Navi Mumbai Bucks the Trend
8,573 Ganesh Idols Immersed Across Navi Mumbai on Anant Chaturdashi
Traffic Jams Leave Kalamboli Commuters Frustrated
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