Click to play videoMumbai: Even as Holi revelers unleash a riot of colours and soak in the excitement across the country, Mumbai's fishing community join in the celebration in their own traditional way.
Holi celebrations among the fishermen in Mumbai are quite special for many reasons. The colourful festival of Holi is known for its tradition of new replacing the old. But the Koli community in Mumbai want to keep their old traditions alive with a good dose of song and dance.
And they do it in style, matching steps to foot-tapping Koli folk songs. Women in Worli's Koliwada area get everyone to join in as the local band raises the festive tempo, thereby carrying forward a tradition of four generations
But this much is just the curtain-raiser to the festival and this enthusiastic bunch is only warming up for a much bugger and more colourful extravaganza, which will also include the traditional burning of the Holi pyre, marking the victory of the good over the evil.
"Saalo sal jo hamari tradition chal rahi hai, usse aur bhi aage badhana hai, jaari rakhana hai (We have this tradition going on for several generations. We want to keep in alive)," Smita Vaiti, a fisherwoman, says.
The Koli community is among the few that add their customary touch to the festival of colours.
The woman folk dances by balancing earthen pots on their heads. According to them, they carry the pots for the fulfillment of their wishes.
"Jab mannat poori ho jaaye, toh hum use Holi mein daal dete hai, (When wishes are fulfilled, we put it in the Holi fire)," says Kanchan Koli, another fisherwoman.
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