Mahim Koli Festival 2011

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Spotted Marathi posters all over the city announcing the Mahim Koli festival on 18th,19th and 20th November 2011 by the MNS.Having social commitments on the first two days,I went on the last day to be faced with huge,huge crowds.Good food is a crowd puller, no matter which part of the world you are in.This was a fabulous opportunity to experience the amazing Koli cuisine from fisherfolk from all parts of Mumbai(Vesava,Malvani,Worli,Mahim,Madh etc).It's unlike anything you eat in restaurants.

At the centre was a stage where there were dances and songs and the milling crowd watched for hours, standing.
In all, there were about 42 stalls.We had to jostle our way and wait for a few minutes to get our order, which we could either take home or have at the tables there.I do think they ought to have more tables cos a lot of people want to be in that charged atmosphere and relish their fish there.The fish here was cooked just right and was oh so fresh! The masalas complimented rather than drowned the seafood.






The Koli women cooked then and there.



Some made the traditional Rice Bhakri or Tandalyachi Bhakri.







There was surmai,rawas,prawns,crabs,squid,pomfret,bombay duck...you name it!



What I liked the most was the Mori Masala...a tantalising curry which looked spicy but wasn't.In fact Koli cuisine is sort of sweeter than Malvani cuisine.





I have a soft corner for seafood...a very large corner :) Years ago,I was blessed to meet Michael Crawford,a scientist who brought to our notice that it was the fatty acids of the fish from the African Rift Valley that lead to the dramatic evolution of the human brain.Eating fish also makes us calmer and healthier! Provided we don't fry it, ofcourse!





Be there at the next Koli festival! Should be in January/February as is the case every year.Look out for the posters! The Marathi language and the Hindi language share the same script...Devnagari


Comments

Unknown said…
the stuff looks amazingly delicious.....sheer bad luck that I couldn't attend this yummy festival.... :-)
November 22, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Sassy Fork said…
come to the Versova one in Jan!
November 22, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Kalyan Karmakar said…
thanks for introducing us to the world of Koli sea food festivalss...really enjoyed this one and the surmai fry too
November 22, 2011 at 4:56 PM
ARVIND said…
hi would u post me on my email the koli and agri festival of im mumbai to be held from NOv 2011 onwards please do send me the itinerary thanks and regds ur fan Arvind
November 22, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Sassy Fork said…
@Knife: so glad you enjoy them as much as I do!
November 22, 2011 at 8:57 PM
Surendra said…
Tondaala Paani Sutla.... Waiting for the Versova Sea Food Festival.
November 22, 2011 at 9:12 PM
Sassy Fork said…
@Arvind: Haven't seen any posters yet.Will let you know if I hear about it.Thanks
November 22, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Sassy Fork said…
@Surendra:yes,I remember The Knife had coincidentally photographed your family at the Versova fest
November 22, 2011 at 10:36 PM
crypticrow said…
Being a Malvani myself, i LOVE seafood a lot more than anyone can imagine. there was a time we used to have fish almost every other day :)) never been to these Koli festivals though. but been devouring the pictures on various blogs recently :D please post about the dates of next fest if possible in advance so that i do get to visit one soon! :D
November 25, 2011 at 4:07 AM
Sassy Fork said…
sure Kalyani. I will put it up on my facebook page...should be some time at the end of Jan
November 25, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Kunal Nakhwa said…
Woow amazingly covered..... i was there...... the food was FANTABULOUS........
December 9, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Sassy Fork said…
Thanks Kunal,I enjoyed it too! :)
December 9, 2011 at 10:20 PM
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