Mumbai has been ranked the happiest city in Asia according to Time Out City Life Index 2025. But psychic and healer Sharmila Cirvante is quite surprised to hear this. She said, “Frankly, I’m surprised and yet not so surprised. I think we should begin by first describing what happiness means. If it means a stress-free life cocooned by an organized city where everything works for the benefit of its citizens, then Mumbai is far from that!”
She mentioned that people in Mumbai wake up every morning dreading the day ahead. She said, “Overcrowded trains, patience-testing traffic, rents that swallow up salaries, matchbox living spaces, and crowds milling everywhere. These make you wonder why you’re still living in this city! And yet, there’s something that Mumbai offers that no city does.”
For Sharmila, happiness in Mumbai isn’t the calm, peaceful, “everything is perfect” kind but the small achievements that make a difference. She said, “It’s the messy, loud, slightly chaotic kind that supports you at every step of the way. It’s that feeling of grabbing a vada pav when you’re starving or broke or both, or finding a random auto just when you thought you’d be stuck forever, or the support of people who just swarm to you if you’re in trouble.”
“So when people say this city brings them joy, it’s not because life is easy. It’s because life feels full. There’s always something happening, someone around, somewhere to go. Mumbai also teaches you resilience; if you can survive here, you can survive anywhere,” she added.
She shared that the best part of this city is that it doesn’t care who you are. She said, “You could be anyone from anywhere—from a small town or another continent, rich or poor—and you’re still always welcome. No one has the time to judge you. You just live your life, chase your goals, and the city quietly cheers you on.
She agrees that Mumbai is stressful and says, “It moves fast, extracts a lot, and rarely gives you a break. But that’s what makes people feel so alive here. You’re constantly adapting, figuring things out, pushing through. And somewhere, that shapes you, builds you.”
“Also, life here has changed over the years. Better hangout spots, more awareness about mental health, people making time for themselves. It’s not just about surviving anymore. People don’t wait for everything to be perfect to feel happy because they know that’s an illusion. They make the best of what they have in whatever small way they can - in conversations, in food, in shared struggles. They know Mumbai always has their back,” Sharmila added.
