Mumbai Koli Seafood Festivals
It was Rahul and Swati who took me to my first Koli Festival...The VERSOVA KOLI SEAFOOD FESTIVAL.Kolis are the congenial,peaceloving fisherfolk of our city.Every year they hold festivals to display their best fish dishes to Mumbaikars.They dress up in their finest clothes and don their wedding jewelry.They dance on stage to music that they play and leave the thousands that come there enthralled!
I just could not believe my eyes when I saw so many delicacies! Lobster Curry...
Crab Curry
Egg Rolls stuffed with Shrimps/Prawns
They wore jewellery that was traditional and weighed nearly 30 to 40 tolas!
The food was cooked then and there...
Served with a big smile!
V ersova Seafood festival had the biggest lobsters.
Rahul who introduced me to the fest attends it every year with his wife Swati.
There were fish nets above which formed tents underneath which we ate on tables laid out in front of the stalls.
The Kolis are the original inhabitants of the city of Mumbai.They are simple and hardworking.They had done a special course on hygiene and had certificates displayed.
They put up amazing dances on stage.
Swati grabbed Candy Floss after some fish treats.
There were numerous stalls including one with Tandoori pomfret and lobster!
Fresh,delicious and reasonably priced!
One stall even had dried fish.
Left all drooling! Overheard a wife yelling at her hubbie "Tumhi kitti khata"...meaning "how much you eat"!!
So the Versova Koli festival had me hooked!
The Kolins broke into a jig on seeing their regular customers and ofcourse they too joined them! So cute!!
Then I went to the second fish festival in the following month at the instance of Vinit and Rina.This was at Mahul,Chembur.
MAHUL KOLI SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Vinit,Sanjay and Rohan received Koli costumes and how they danced!
Their lungis had crabs and fishes on them.
The clams were hot and tasty thanks to Koli masala and coconut.
The Koli caviar......fish roe
There were Tandalache Bhakri or Rice rotis to go with it all.
Stuffed Squids were a special feature.
Yes,had everyone in splits.....I danced!
Mahul is a place where you see migratory flamingoes all along the coast.
The final festival I attended was the SHIVAJI PARK KOLI SEAFOOD FESTIVAL organised by the M.N.S in May.There were huge crowds to see fisherfolk who had come from different parts of Mumbai.
The Kolins are so pretty.The younger generation is well educated,speak impeccable English and are in various professions such as fashion designing,hospitality industry,etc.On such days they all come together to celebrate their glorious culture.
Dabelis or Koli burgers were made with Koli masala.The spice mix was available on sale.
Saw a modern day Indian Chinese dish...Chilli Squid....
Fish is good for health when it is steamed,grilled,baked,broiled or made into a gravy.
Spotted a garland made of dried fish....how cool is that!!
Need I say more? See you at the next Koli Festival!!
MAHUL KOLI SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Vinit,Sanjay and Rohan received Koli costumes and how they danced!
Their lungis had crabs and fishes on them.
The clams were hot and tasty thanks to Koli masala and coconut.
The Koli caviar......fish roe
There were Tandalache Bhakri or Rice rotis to go with it all.
Stuffed Squids were a special feature.
Yes,had everyone in splits.....I danced!
Mahul is a place where you see migratory flamingoes all along the coast.
The final festival I attended was the SHIVAJI PARK KOLI SEAFOOD FESTIVAL organised by the M.N.S in May.There were huge crowds to see fisherfolk who had come from different parts of Mumbai.
The Kolins are so pretty.The younger generation is well educated,speak impeccable English and are in various professions such as fashion designing,hospitality industry,etc.On such days they all come together to celebrate their glorious culture.
Dabelis or Koli burgers were made with Koli masala.The spice mix was available on sale.
Saw a modern day Indian Chinese dish...Chilli Squid....
Fish is good for health when it is steamed,grilled,baked,broiled or made into a gravy.
Spotted a garland made of dried fish....how cool is that!!
Need I say more? See you at the next Koli Festival!! 
Comments
A must experience if you love seafood: I went last year and it was fantastic. …. crabs, promfrets, prawns, squid..... ambotic … yumbotic… fishtastic !! I saw aunties from Bandra come with huge tiffins to pack loads of Koli delights for more weekend feasting. ...this year, I am going to be one of those smart ones and take some dhabbas with me.....
You will get a quintessential experience of Mumbai's Koli community: It’s very well organized (resembles a Goa beach experience) with ample seating on long tables to enjoy the food, and ample car parking close by.