Diwali DecorationsThis chawl, normally adorned only by draying clothes, takes a new look during the Diwali, the Festival of Lights…it is adorned by beautiful lanterns in front of each tenement.....
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chawls
The area in which the workers and their families settled, were close to the mills. Together they came to be known as Girangaon, the Village of the Mills.
Due to housing demands from the milk workers, the Bombay Development District (BDD) and Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) built rows of low cost houses in Girangaon. These 1-2 stories high, single room tenements with a common narrow corridor, and a block of shared toilets situated at the end of the corridor came to be known as “Chawls”.
A group of 3 to 4 Chawl buildings were usually built around a central courtyard which served as an open space for sports, family celebrations, weddings and festivals. This congested tenement living created a “Chawl Culture” based upon a unique, shared lifestyle and collective identity. Today it is being replaced by the “Mall Culture”
The area in which the workers and their families settled, were close to the mills. Together they came to be known as Girangaon, the Village of the Mills.
Due to housing demands from the milk workers, the Bombay Development District (BDD) and Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) built rows of low cost houses in Girangaon. These 1-2 stories high, single room tenements with a common narrow corridor, and a block of shared toilets situated at the end of the corridor came to be known as “Chawls”.
A group of 3 to 4 Chawl buildings were usually built around a central courtyard which served as an open space for sports, family celebrations, weddings and festivals. This congested tenement living created a “Chawl Culture” based upon a unique, shared lifestyle and collective identity. Today it is being replaced by the “Mall Culture”
Bhoot Bangala (Ghost Bungalow)The actual name of Bhoot Bangala is Chhapara Chawl. The reason it has taken on the colloquial term of Bhoot Bangala is because the chawl has been abandoned for the last 20 years. The chawl was sold to a builder for redevelopment however, things went wrong and the builder and owner of the chawl are now disputing the matter in court.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ghodapdeo Temple
Ghodapdeo is the name of a God. The story goes… A man named Borkar had a dream where God told him to search for him in that area. After searching, he built a temple in the place where the temple stands. At that time, the sea would come right up to the point of the temple and sea water would enter the temple area. Even today, after much reclamation of the land, sea water still enters the temple through a small drainage like arch made at the bottom of the structure. Sea water enters only during the monsoons at high tide. The reason the caretakers know it is water from the sea is that along with the water, small crabs are also seen emerging from the arch.
Till today, 6 generations later, the temple is run and managed by the same Borkar family. Most people say that the stone which is the statue of Ghodapdeo looks like the map of India. The temple’s festival is celebrated every year in the month of February.
Ghodapdeo is the name of a God. The story goes… A man named Borkar had a dream where God told him to search for him in that area. After searching, he built a temple in the place where the temple stands. At that time, the sea would come right up to the point of the temple and sea water would enter the temple area. Even today, after much reclamation of the land, sea water still enters the temple through a small drainage like arch made at the bottom of the structure. Sea water enters only during the monsoons at high tide. The reason the caretakers know it is water from the sea is that along with the water, small crabs are also seen emerging from the arch.
Till today, 6 generations later, the temple is run and managed by the same Borkar family. Most people say that the stone which is the statue of Ghodapdeo looks like the map of India. The temple’s festival is celebrated every year in the month of February.
Mirchi Gulli (Chilly Lane)
The stalls in this vibrant lane can be traced as far back as 1938. The lane is famous for its masalas, spices, chillies. One might go looking through the whole of Mumbai and not find anything like this lane.
The masala’s are not just sold here but also made here. The people who make and sell them belong to the Maratha Caste. Mirchi Gulli is what it is today because of the mill workers and their families. It is because of their patronage and demand for community specific masala’s, Mirchi Gulli has obtained immense recognition as one of the culinary markets of Mumbai.
The stalls in this vibrant lane can be traced as far back as 1938. The lane is famous for its masalas, spices, chillies. One might go looking through the whole of Mumbai and not find anything like this lane.
The masala’s are not just sold here but also made here. The people who make and sell them belong to the Maratha Caste. Mirchi Gulli is what it is today because of the mill workers and their families. It is because of their patronage and demand for community specific masala’s, Mirchi Gulli has obtained immense recognition as one of the culinary markets of Mumbai.
Chivda Gulli
Chivda is a spicy-sweet snack usually made out of flattened rice (poha) or puffed rice (kurmurra) with a lot of peanuts, raisins, dried coconut bits and other ingredients. Chivda Gulli has been in existence since 1969. The lane caters to all, providing the city with an array of chivda. The chivda is made and sold here. It serves as a supplier to the bigger stores around the city, being one of two suppliers. The other being located in Dharavi.
Chivda is a spicy-sweet snack usually made out of flattened rice (poha) or puffed rice (kurmurra) with a lot of peanuts, raisins, dried coconut bits and other ingredients. Chivda Gulli has been in existence since 1969. The lane caters to all, providing the city with an array of chivda. The chivda is made and sold here. It serves as a supplier to the bigger stores around the city, being one of two suppliers. The other being located in Dharavi.
Hanuman Theatre
Hanuman Theatre started around the 1920’s-30’s by the present owners (Madhukar Nirade) Grandfather along with his friend. The theatre was not started to screen movies but for stage performances. Around that time, there was no platform for Marathi folk plays and dramas. The theatre at the time was an open air theatre which was necessary for the folk art.
Since 1994, the theatre has been closed to cultural events due to the lack of performances by local artists and the shutting of mills. The space has been converted into a venue for weddings and such other events. The charges for the space are still minimally priced.
Hanuman Theatre started around the 1920’s-30’s by the present owners (Madhukar Nirade) Grandfather along with his friend. The theatre was not started to screen movies but for stage performances. Around that time, there was no platform for Marathi folk plays and dramas. The theatre at the time was an open air theatre which was necessary for the folk art.
Since 1994, the theatre has been closed to cultural events due to the lack of performances by local artists and the shutting of mills. The space has been converted into a venue for weddings and such other events. The charges for the space are still minimally priced.
Meghawadi
Meghawadi, the name of an area in Girangaon has been in existence for the last 100 years. The two places of interest in this area are the Mhasoba temple and Bhajicha Mala (Vegetable Farm). The land on which both these places exist is now being contended by the local residents and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The lease on which the farm land was taken, was a 99 year lease which has now ended. The BMC would now like to use the land to make way for a luxury apartment building by selling it to a private builder. The local residents however, would like to have the land developed into a public playground and park, considering Mumbai is so starved of open public spaces. No action has been taken in regards to this redevelopment as this issue is fairly new. But the resistance of the local residents is strong and filing of a court case is inevitable.
Mhasoba is the name of a God of the Meghawadi area which the local residents worship. They believe that Mhasoba grants all their prayers and wishes. They also believe that at night he roams the area protecting them.
Meghawadi, the name of an area in Girangaon has been in existence for the last 100 years. The two places of interest in this area are the Mhasoba temple and Bhajicha Mala (Vegetable Farm). The land on which both these places exist is now being contended by the local residents and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The lease on which the farm land was taken, was a 99 year lease which has now ended. The BMC would now like to use the land to make way for a luxury apartment building by selling it to a private builder. The local residents however, would like to have the land developed into a public playground and park, considering Mumbai is so starved of open public spaces. No action has been taken in regards to this redevelopment as this issue is fairly new. But the resistance of the local residents is strong and filing of a court case is inevitable.
Mhasoba is the name of a God of the Meghawadi area which the local residents worship. They believe that Mhasoba grants all their prayers and wishes. They also believe that at night he roams the area protecting them.
Bharat Mata Theatre
The theatre opened in the year 1932 and is situated in the heart of the mill area, the mill closest to it being India Untied Mill No. 1. The owner of the theatre started it with an intention to cater to the mill workers and their families. The theatre ensured a form of entertainment for the mill workers at very reasonable prices when other forms of entertainment were not available. Even today, with burgeoning multiplexes across the city and exclusive movie theatres becoming the “in’ thing, Bharat Mata Theatre still offers the public entertainment at cost of 13 to 50 rupees.
The theatre opened in the year 1932 and is situated in the heart of the mill area, the mill closest to it being India Untied Mill No. 1. The owner of the theatre started it with an intention to cater to the mill workers and their families. The theatre ensured a form of entertainment for the mill workers at very reasonable prices when other forms of entertainment were not available. Even today, with burgeoning multiplexes across the city and exclusive movie theatres becoming the “in’ thing, Bharat Mata Theatre still offers the public entertainment at cost of 13 to 50 rupees.
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India United Mill No.1
India United Mill No.1 is one of the mills that shut down recently in February this year. It has no units functioning except some clerical staff. Dainik Bhaskar, a Hindi newspaper now occupies half the area with its offices.
The mill in its heydays employed approximately 3000 workers per shift and had a total of 3 shifts. The “Morarji Gokuldas Textile Mill” which was right opposite, employed another 2000-3000 workers per shift. The magnitude of employment in that area alone of just these two mills was massive.
India United Mill No.1 is one of the mills that shut down recently in February this year. It has no units functioning except some clerical staff. Dainik Bhaskar, a Hindi newspaper now occupies half the area with its offices.
The mill in its heydays employed approximately 3000 workers per shift and had a total of 3 shifts. The “Morarji Gokuldas Textile Mill” which was right opposite, employed another 2000-3000 workers per shift. The magnitude of employment in that area alone of just these two mills was massive.
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