Mumbai, Aug 10 - The Maharashtra government, battling to curb the fast-spreading swine flu, faces an unusual challenge -- a string of major religious festivals and the Independence Day celebrations that will see large crowds everywhere, a sure way to spread the highly contagious virus among thousands.

The Janmashtami festival falls on Friday, Independence Day is the day after, the Parsi New Year is on Aug 19, Ramzan begins Aug 21, the widely popular 10-day Ganeshotsav begins Aug 23, Navratri begins Sep 19, then in October come the state assembly elections and Diwali.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul have appealed to people not to join the festive crowds this year.

'Since swine flu spreads quickly in crowded public places, we appeal to the people and organisers to keep Janmashtami simple, austere, without pomp and huge crowds,' Chavan said Monday afternoon after a meeting with the festival organisers of the city.

Mayor Raul, a medico herself, has issued safety guidelines for the public with do's and don'ts to be followed to avoid getting infected.

Independence Day on Saturday will be marked by parades, marchpasts, public flag hoisting ceremonies in schools, colleges, government offices, housing complexes and social organisations. However, the authorities have not made any appeal with regard to Independence Day celebrations Aug 15.

The Parsi New Year Aug 19 is celebrated by the Parsi community which has a significant presence in Mumbai, Pune and south Gujarat. Last week, the J.B. Vachha School in Matunga, a hub of the Parsi community, was ordered shut for a week after a student was detected influenza A (H1N1) positive.

Two days after the Parsi New Year, the Muslim holy month of fasting Ramzan begins Aug 21, which would see huge crowds gathering for prayers in mosques all over the city. It will be followed a month later by Eid with ceremonial namaaz that is attended by hundreds of thousands of Muslims - nearly 18 percent of Mumbai's 13 million population.

Meanwhile, the 10-day Ganeshotsav, the most popular festival in Maharashtra to worship Lord Ganesha, will start Aug 23, the main centres of celebrations being Mumbai and Pune.