The aggressive Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has found a new way to endear itself to the people, through their stomachs. To woo the city’s original inhabitants, the Kolis, MNS MLA from Dadar, Nitin Sardesai, has organised a Koli food and culture festival at Shivaji Park.
“I want to promote the rich food and culture of the Kolis through this festival,” Sardesai said, adding, “The community’s traditions are still unexplored. Their delicious food always attracts people, but they do not get a chance to display them on a bigger platform.
The festivals organised in the city normally represent the food and culture of a specific region like Konkan. Hence, I decided to concentrate on a festival which will represent the entire community,” he said.
The Damocles sword is hanging over the Kolis due to the stringent provisions of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Act. They cannot redevelop their properties, since most of it falls within 500 metres from the coast. Besides, they lack modern techniques of fishing, which has led to a substantial fall in their incomes over a period of years.
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