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Our Bureau

Mumbai , Oct. 27

THE Mumbai Festival would encourage "home stays" under its cultural tourism initiative.

Under this initiative, foreign tourists would be given the option of putting up with a local family. This interaction, it is hoped, would give them a glimpse into the life of the `Mumbaikar'.

The concept is also expected to reduce the huge demand for hotel rooms in the ensuing tourist season. The festival would run for two weeks from January 14 next year.

According to Ms Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Tourism, the event would be marketed abroad through the Government's tourist offices, Indian embassies overseas and through Air India, which will run a film on the festival on all its inbound flights.

The Ministry would allocate Rs 15 lakh towards the organisation of the festival, she said.

The event would be yet another example of public-private initiative. Thomas Cook and other tour operators would also be roped into the publicity effort.

The Chairman of the Festival Committee, Mr Kamal Morarka, said the organisers were also talking with the Mumbai film industry to explore ways of involving them in the festival. It plans to screen old films that are not easily accessible to the general public as well as screen films on open grounds to reach out to the masses.

Besides, there are plans to showcase the culture represented by the fishermen, dabbawallahs and other segments of society in the festival.

To salute the spirit of the Mumbaikar, the organisers also plan to identify and honour the heroes of the July 26 deluge.

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