Mumbai, Apr 30 (IANS): Exhibitions, laser shows, cultural programmes and a song by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar -- political parties here are going all out to celebrate 50 years of Maharashtra's formation Saturday.

The official function will be held at the sprawling Shivaji Park in Dadar in the heart of the city. This includes an exhibition called 'Suvarna Maharashtra Darshan'. And a laser show will also be organised at Girgaum Chowpatty and Marine Drive.

On the eve of Maharashtra Day, activists from every district are to bring water from prominent rivers and sprinkle them at the Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai, where a memorial has been constructed in memory of those who laid down their lives in making Maharashtra a separate state 50 years ago.

The Shiv Sena has roped in Lata Mangeshkar to sing the 'Maharashtra Geet' at Bandra-Kurla Complex in suburban Bandra Saturday evening, party workers said.

The party started its celebrations a week ago with a blood donation drive where over 25,000 bottles of blood were collected April 25.

"We started with a blood donation campaign as a gesture of commemorating those martyrs who gave their life and blood to the formation of Mumbai and Maharashtra," said a Shiv Sena spokesperson.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) organised a food festival and cooking competition the same day. The festival, called 'Maharashtra Majha,' was a five-day affair.

The fare was complete with regional cuisines from Konkan, Khandesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada.

"The festival was organised to bring out the essence of various regions of Maharashtra," said an MNS spokesperson.

While the Mumbai unit of the Congress has sought permission to hold a night-long cultural programme, which would go on till late Saturday afternoon at Jamboree Maidan in Worli, the Samajwadi Party has planned a 'Mushayara' in Hindi and Urdu at Malvani in suburban Malad.