One of the city’s oldest fishing villages gears up for the 100th year of its Holi celebrations, always held before the traditional festival thanks to a legend that’s as old as the sea
Harshali Chavkute, Vritika Padri and Haresh Chavkute, residents of Khar Danda village, put on the fineries that they plan to sport for the Holi Shimga Festival. Pic/Satej Shinde
The original inhabitants of Mumbai, the Kolis are an aboriginal fishing community who have made a living by subsisting on the fortunes of the ocean. One of the city’s largest fishing villages, Khar Danda, which they call home, is gearing up to celebrate the festival of Holi this week, and this year is special because the festivities hit a century.
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The three-day heritage celebration like all things ancient comes with a dose of legend. A resident this writer meets at the hamlet, which is occupied by Hindu Kolis and East Indian Christians, says that the burning of the sacred pyre during Holika dahan, requires firewood. Centuries ago, when the residents ran short of wood in the vicinity of the Salsette Island, they moved to nearby villages, leading to fights over stealing wood. Holika, who the Hindus worship, is believed to have appeared in a fishermen’s dream, using him as conduit to convey the message that the Kolis here celebrate Holi prior to the festival in the Hindu calendar, so that there is sufficient firewood for all.
An earlier Holi celebration at the fishing hamlet of Khar Danda located at erstwhile Salsette Island, one of seven that made up what’s Mumbai today
Ever since, the Khar Danda celebration called the Holi Shimga Fest has preceded the city’s Holi festivities. Brenden Miranda, of the Holi Shimga Festival committee, claims that this was the first public Hindu festival to be recognised by British suburban collector Carter Perry Sr in the year 1922, who gazetted it after hearing this legend.
On March 16, the celebrations will begin with a procession of residents carrying the local flag and an idol of Holika from the Dandeshwar temple through the seven padas of the village; each pada having its own tradition and offerings. Holika is dressed in the Koli lugda (traditional drape of saree worn by the women) and jewellery by the villagers.
The locals dress up their boats with flowers and ornamentation. The village is decorated with colourful lights and diyas. Usually, the décor reflects a theme, but this year, to stress on the centenary, the residents have decided to highlight the festival of spring in its traditional avatar.
Miranda says the men are going to be dressed in the surka and the women in lugda, and visitors can look forward to feasting on fresh seafood redolent with local flavours, late into the night. The meal always ends with a round of sweets, including puran poli, Mahim ka patla halwa and lapsi. And because no celebration is complete without a sip of heady nectar, Sara, the locally brewed spirit is going to be doing the rounds among the locals.
WHERE: Khar Danda village, Bandra
WHEN: March 16-18, 7 PM onwards
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