Like Regina, their dreams have been drowned out. The dreams of MumbaiвЂ™s urban planners are turning into a nightmare for MumbaiвЂ™s fishermen and other deprived communities. The Kolis are suffering the repercussions of their lifestyle. Shimga Shimaga means Holi (pronounced haa-wa-li in the Koli accent), and is celebrated at the same time as the Hindu festival of the same name.ДЄmusement parks, high speed bridges, pollution вЂ“ itвЂ™s life in the fast lane for MumbaiвЂ™s elite. San aaila go narali punvecha is a well-known Koli song sung on this occasion. Prayers are made to the sea god, and puja are made of the community's fishing boats. As per their seafaring tradition, Kolis know that after this day the wind strength and direction changes in favor of fishing, and thus this is the day on which Kolis celebrate the start of a new business season. Koli festivals Narali Punaw Narali Punaw is the most important festival for Kolis. Aga Pori Sambhaal Dariyala Tufaan Ayalay Bhari.The separate formations then break up and dance together with movements symbolizing the waves and the actions of rowing from cliff to cliff and casting nets to catch fish.ДЄdditionally, there are many Koli folk songs which are famous all over India.

Fisherwomen stand opposite with their arms linked and advance towards the men folk. The dancers move in unison, portraying the movement of the rowing of a boat. The dance is performed by both men and women divided into two groups, where fishers stand in two rows holding oars in their hands.

The dance incorporates themes that this community is most familiar with - fishing and the sea. Koli folk culture The Koli community has its own distinct identity, with a particular focus on folk dance. There are several major subdivisions of Koli in that area, including the Parkari Koli, the Wadiyara Koli and the Tharadari Koli. They are primarily concentrated in the fertile flood plain of the province of Sindh. The Hindu Koli tribes are located mostly in southeastern Pakistan. Kutchi Kolis in Pakistan As the Rann of Kutch extends into parts of Pakistan, there are also Kutchi Kolis among the Pakistanis. Kolis of Wagad are called Wagadia Kolis, and Kolis from the Rann of Kutch are known as Kutchi Kolis. In earlier times, the Kolis of Gujarat took their names from the places they lived, resulting in many of the common Koli names of today. The Agri-Koli in the interior parts of Mumbai speak Agri, a mixture of Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, English and Kannada. Language and dispersal Koli and Marathi are the main languages spoken by Kolis in Mumbai. The Koli goddess, Ekaveera Devi There are also a significant number of Koli Christians in Mumbai, whose ceremonies combine elements of traditional Koli culture with the religious observances of Roman Catholicism. The pejorative English word ' coolie ' (referring to Asians in general) is derived from the name of this community at that time. In the 19th century, many Koli people were employed at textile mills in Mumbai (then known as Bombay) under British administration. Presently, Kolis are estimated to constitute more than twenty percent of the total population of Gujarat, or as many as 12 million individuals, although this estimate is based on 1931 enumeration, which is the last time caste based enumeration was taken in India. In 1901, the number of Kolis in India was returned as nearly 3.75 million, but this total includes a distinct weaving caste of Kolis, the Kori, in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in Northern India. The community has several subcastes, the prominent ones being Koli Kolis, Mangela Kolis, Vaity Kolis, Koli Christians, Mahadeo Kolis and Suryawanshi Kolis.

In Gujarat, Kolis primarily speak Gujarati. The Kolis of Vasai are largely Hindu and Christian, though both belong to the Marathi ethnic group. In Maharashtra, Kolis almost exclusively speak Marathi, though some Koli communities speak a variant dialect. In Gujarat, the Koli community is mainly located in the southern portion of the state, particularly around the cities of Surat, Navsari and Valsad. In Maharashtra, the Koli community mostly inhabits the coastal region, and is among the original inhabitants of Greater Mumbai, which comprises the seven islands of Bombay. You only wish it would give them a sweet-tongue! The Kolis are an ethnic group found throughout India, most notably in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. They make a lot of sweet dishes at the Koli women are extremely fond of them. When at sea the men eat dried fish and rice gruel. The ordinary Koli meal consists of curry (ambat), rice, and fried fish. Otherwise the Kolis live a very simple life.

Marathi koli costume