A 16-day annual affair held in Munich, capital of the German state of Bavaria, the original Oktoberfest is almost 200 years old and draws about six million people each year who flock it for the freshly brewed beer manufactured by the top six breweries of Germany, locally called ‘The Big Six’. 

“It is a native festival of the Bavarian state as the Bavarian people are known around the word as the most beer-loving people,” said Chris Pohl, Director of Bangalore-based GVCM Trading Company and representative of over 17 German brands in India as well as the brain behind the project.  

“It’s surprising that Mumbai has not yet had an Oktoberfest whereas the festival has been replicated all across the world,” said Pohl. The idea is to create revelry with authentic German beer and food that goes beyond the usual clichés of ‘sausage and beer’ that accompany German food habits. “There is no better idea than Oktoberfest to promote German food and culture or Germany as a whole,” added Pohl, who has a background in the hospitality business.

The Indian version will be smaller in scale and can be called a ‘tester’. While Munich hosts six million people over two weeks with 11 tents put up on a designated lawn, the Indian event will be held for four days at two hotels in Mumbai and one in Goa. Not unexpectedly, the festival will have to deal with permissions and import licences for getting German draught beer into India and if they don’t come in time, Mumbai and Goa will get canned and bottled German beer, says Pohl. It will also have a an all-German traditional brass band with ladies serving beer the traditional way and a chef to serve authentic German cuisine. 

While the dates are not yet finalized, it is expected to coincide with the grand celebrations in Munich. “We’ll begin on a Thursday evening and end it on Sunday afternoon,” said Pohl, adding that every evening they expect to host about 400 to 450 people.