I have a chance to go to Bombay, India (Mumbai). What is the culture Like?

Question

And how are American's received? Any customs that I should be aware of?

Answer 1

wow mumbai?!
now that's one interesting city!
it's like the new york of india. There aren't really very many customs you need to learn. Mainly becuase almost everyone there have become so Americanized, but they really appreciate Westerners being able to say things in their language, Hindi.
First of all, you'll want to learn how to say hello politely. That is "Namaste"
Good-bye is also said the same way.
Another thing you may want to learn is how to say thank you.
That is "Shukriya"
And you want to stay away from foods sold at rundown places or stands. People from out of India aren't able to digest it because their stomache's haven't been exposed to them.
Americans are received quiet well. There may be a lot more people trying to sell you their goods though becuase they believe all Americans are very wealthy. Many beggars will come up to you more than the surrounding people because you'll obviously have the appearance of coming from the West.
All in all, the city of Mumbai is extremely interesting!
I'm sure you'll have the time of your life there!
Wish you a safe trip!

Answer 2

I was there in 1998. It's a very cosmopolitan place.

My wife is Indian, we stayed with relatives who work in the movie business. I thought it was a fun place and I wish we could have spent more time there. It's a big crowded city and very Westernized compared to many other parts of India. I can't think of any customs in particular; it really depends on who you spend time with. I think people in Mumbai are pretty well used to Westerners.

You might be shocked by the beggars though. We were in a car and somebody knocked on the window. I looked and it was a man carrying another man. The man who was being carried had little skinny arms and legs and appeared to be paralyzed. I have never seen anyone who looked like that before and I almost jumped out of my skin, so to speak. There are lot of strange looking street people who beg for money. It's beyond anything you will ever see in the USA; people with weird deformities and so on. And they tended to single me out for money, apparently because I was obviously from the West. There were little kids grabbing my shirt and pointing to their mouths. But most of them would not take food, they preferred money. Most of the local people didn't give them anything.

It's a wonderful place, but I can't imagine any Westerners not being totally blown away by the beggars, signs of abject poverty, etc. It was even weirder when we went to Pune which is more of a traditional Indian area than Mumbai.

Oh yeah, don't drink any water that didn't come in a bottle or that wasn't boiled. Tea and coffee are okay, but the local water can make you sick. The bathrooms can be pretty nasty. We couldn't flush the toilet for several days and I got the impression that this wasn't unsual for them.

Answer 3

Bombay is the most westernized city of India. You can get all kind of food and nightlife is great. But you will see not so good parts of India as well. Lots of slums, traffic, bad roads etc. This should help, a good video overview of the city

http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/alldestinations/india/mumbai