6 common traits of a true Mumbaikar

Mumbai is more than a city- its a feeling, its an emotion. It has everything your heart desires and more (except maybe snow). You may think I’m exaggerating here but if you are a true Mumbaikar, you’ll know this could not be any truer. People of Mumbai are bound by many things – experiences, pace of the city, its culture, its never-ending traffic etc. And we may be in millions, but there are a few traits that are common between us. It is very easy to spot a person born and brought up in this magnificent city. For example, every Mumbaikar has a romance with the monsoon season. We love it, we hate it, we enjoy it, we despise it; its just the matter of timing! Capeesh? Here are few more things that are common in every resident of this beautiful city-

1. Mixture of language
Mumbai embraces people from all walks of life, the result of which is a beautiful symphony of cultures, food, and languages that blend together. We have a unique way of expressing things in a mixture of Hindi, Marathi and English, all in one sentence.  For example, ‘Arre yaar I’m bored’ is a sentence that is pretty normal in our daily conversation where arre is Marathi, yaar is hindi and the rest as we all know is English.

2. Why Aap when you can Tu Tu mein mein
Mumbai lingo is as unique as the city itself. People all over India normally use Aap to address the other person as a mark of respect. But if you address a Mumbaikar with an Aap, there is a good chance of someone taking an offence in you trying to be “formal” with them. There’s also a chance of people linking you to Arvind Kejriwal but that is beside the point. There are few who might take you seriously but if you want to strike a real conversation or friendship for that matter Aap is definitely not the way to go about it. Bring on the Tu’s and Tereko’s.

3. Can shop from anywhere
Mumbai could very well be considered as the fashion capital of India. You’ll find people wearing all types/styles of clothing. From big brands to voguish street wear, there is some thing trendy for every budget. People do not hesitate before buying from the streets, as a matter of fact you’ll also find some great stuff being sold in local trains.


4. We hardly judge
This is one of the best qualities of Mumbaikars. People from any social standing, background or religion can get along famously. The only discrimination you’ll find here is the one between people of SOBO (South Bombay) and the “burbees” (people from suburbs), which I think can be considered as sibling-bickering and is acceptable for such a huge city.

5. Love for pav
Mumbaikars have a secret love affair with the loaf of bread called “ladi-pav”.  We can have it with literally anything. From vada pav to pav bhaji, missal pav, kebab pav, masala pav etc; the possibilities are endless. And after all these there is also kadak pav, maska pav that is dipped in a hot cup of tea. We can never say no to pav.

6. Thank God for Marine drive
If there is one place in Mumbai where you’ll find peace from the hustle bustle of the city life, it is this beautiful seafront. There is something magical about this place. The vastness of the sea, waves crashing on the rocks, salt in the air, wind in your hair; its surreal. Good day or a bad one, Marine drive has the power to immediately lift your spirits. There are very few things that can compare to a good stroll on this promenade and we thank God for it!

There are many who think Mumbaikars are complex, arrogant beings; but it’s quite the opposite. The people of Mumbai are rather simple with very little fuss and drama. We battle things like traffic jams, average infrastructure, increasing cost of living, etc on everyday basis. But we face it together, as true Mumbaikars. And it is in this struggle that we find our essence which is quite famously known as the “Spirit of Mumbai”.