2019 Misal Festival Shivaji Park Mumbai - much more than Misal!

Misal fans will be delighted to have a festival devoted to this yummy snack! There is an ongoing Misal Festival at the BMC ground next to Vanita Samaj at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Better hurry, as today is the last date. It is open in the evening from 5p.m. to 10p.m. 

The stalls are arranged around the ground with tables and chairs to sit and eat comfortably. There are also a few fun activities for kids, such as a Trampoline and a min-cars' merry-go-round as well as stalls selling toys, handicrafts, eatables, clothes, key chains, etc. 

What's more, there is much more than misal-pav out here...

As you enter, first check out the  general stalls 

Then head in - you'll be spoiled for choice in deciding on which misal to try out. Every stall has the basic ingredients, but some have mild spice, others extra spice, some with puris, some with an accompaniment of curds, others with chaas, yet others with sol kadhi. Take your pick! Be warned though, especially if you are very health conscious - it is oily in all the stalls.

Misal Stall Banners

Just looking at the Misal dishes on display in the stall attracts you like a magnet!

A display of Misal is also a work of art!

While some had the misal ingredients in copper vessels as seen in the image above, even the simple one in the Shreyas Stall impressed me, with a lovely bead mat below -

Misal at Shreyas Stall

My very own Misal-Pav -

Once you've had your fill of the misal paav, head to the stall of Prabhu Ice-Cream Parlour. You absolutely must slurp on the Guava Kulfi and the Mango Sandwich ice-cream. 

There is also a stall selling Popcorn and one selling Mukhwas. Try out the Masala Papad as well.

At the very end, when you're about to leave, don't forget to enjoy an excellent Banaras paan (The city of Banaras is now Varanasi, but the famous paan will always have its old name!)or Maghai Paan at the Paan Stall (set up by Zubaid from Aurangabad). The variety of paans are very artistically arranged on large thalis. The options are: Banaras paan, Kolkata paan, Maghai paan, Chocolate paan. The Banaras paan was the best and was so good, went the next day to have it again! The Maghai paan is also unusual, with a slightly sweet tast. One thing to note: the generous sprinkle of desiccated coconut on top of the paans are artificially coloured, so you could request them to remove that if you prefer not to have it.

Paan Stall

I would like to suggest that the next time such a festival is organized, it would be good to have Kothimbir vadis too! 

Venue
B.M.C. Gymkhana Ground,

Next to Vanita Samaj,
Opposite Shivaji Park Maidan,
Shivaji Park,
Mumbai - 400028.

Time: 5 p.m. to10 p.m.