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Compilation of yatras and sub-cultures in Mumbai underway

The state government's gazetteer department is launching a compilation of the various yatras (religious fairs) and utsav (celebrations, including those of a religious nature) in Mumbai

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As the cliché goes, the city is a melting pot of cultures. However, a first-ever exercise will document the yatras and jatras in Mumbai and the larger metropolitan region and map the strains of various sub-cultures in city.

The state government's gazetteer department is launching a compilation of the various yatras (religious fairs) and utsav (celebrations, including those of a religious nature) in Mumbai and Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. This will map the traditions, religious practices, history, culture, local lore, myths and sub-cultures around these yatras and utsavs.

"There are several yatras and utsavs that are held in Mumbai and neighboring districts like Thane and Palghar. We will try and record the origin of these festivals in Mumbai, some of which may date back to the era of King Bimba (also called Raja Bhimdeva who ruled from what is today's Mahim in the 13th century) to its evolution to the present day. The volume will cover yatras and utsavs held at temples of gram daivatas (local guardian deities)," said Dilip Balsekar, executive editor and secretary of the state gazetteer department.

These centuries old gram daivatas, which are witness to Mumbai's evolution to India's financial capital include Mumbadevi, whose reigning Goddess gives the city its name, Gamdevi at Grant Road West, Prabhadevi and Mahalaxmi.

Balsekar added the documentation would record this fast-disappearing culture for the future generations. "Since Mumbai is the economic capital of Mumbai and a global city, people from other states and countries participate in these yatras and utsavs," he explained. The volume, work on which is underway, will be released next year.

Balsekar stated that the division-wise compilation of these festivals in the Konkan region, would also look into how the sites of these yatras and festivals in Mumbai and neighboring regions may have shifted elsewhere as the city grew and developed.

"The volume will also offer a glimpse into the social history of Mumbai. These festivals have served to bridge caste and class differences and impacted larger society by creating social stability," he noted.

The Gazetteer department has two broad categories of gazettes, namely the district gazettes and state gazettes which cover issues like history, botany, medicinal plants and literature. With a detailed study of social, political, economic and cultural lives of people along with the description of physical and natural features, these gazettes serve as an encyclopedia for historians and researchers due to their strong reference values.

SOME LOCATIONS TO BE COVERED:

  • 10 day yatra at Prabhadevi temple which begins on Shakambari Poornima
  • Ashadi Ekadashi at Wadala Vitthal Mandir
  • Mahavir Jayanti at Kandivali
  • Sunni Ijtema held at Azad Maidan in December
  • Shravan festivities at Babulnath temple
  • Diwali and Navratri at Mahalaxmi
  • Shab-e-Barat and Bakri Id and Ramzan Id at Haji Ali
  • Mount Mary feast in September
  • Yatra at Salpadevi temple in Mulund
  • Gathering of Ambedkarites at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar to pay respects to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on December 6
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