Drying fish is a task assigned to the girls and women in the family, and they start at a young age. Fishing and related activities form the economic backbone of Khar Danda Koliwada, providing livelihoods for the residents and contributing to the socio-economic development of the coastal village.
The fish are spread evenly on the open ground, which is specially coated with cow dung. Cow dung contains antibacterial properties that help disinfect and sanitize surfaces. Coating floors with cow dung can help deter pests such as flies, mosquitoes, and ants, thereby reducing the risk of infestations and associated health hazards.
Dried fish retains much of its nutritional value, including protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it a valuable low-cost nutrition source, particularly in regions where fresh fish may be unavailable or expensive.
The 140-year-old Club of St. Anthony is a Goan club associated with Deussua village in South Goa district. These Goan clubs are called kudds (or coors), which provide affordable accommodation to migrants from Goa staying and working in Mumbai. Located close to Dockyard station on P. D’Mello Road, the Club of St. Anthony is among the few remaining kudds in Mumbai, most having closed due to a lack of patronage and occupancy.
The Koli community were mainly involved in fishing, though some Kolis were also cultivators. Typically, the Koli women take care of drying and selling fish, while the Koli men are engaged in fishing and distributing the day’s catch. Fish markets are dominated by Koli women, who handle the business operations.
Adjoining the docks, Mazagaon Koliwada is among the oldest Koli settlements in Mumbai, though nothing much of the historical village has survived in modern times. It is home to diverse communities, including Parsis, Muslims, East Indian Catholics, Jews, and others, who have lived here for generations. Mazagaon is dotted with architectural landmarks and heritage buildings, which reflect its cosmopolitan social fabric.
Shenaaz's tiny room at Bob Bungalow is where she feeds the local cats. Many cats live in Mazagon, where they patrol the fish markets and serve as useful pest deterrents. The residents look after the cats even if they are not domesticated. They become close friends with the locals and are regarded as family.
Koli fishermen are sorting the day’s catch at Bhaucha Dhakka jetty. Due to extensive land reclamations, Kolis had to shift their fishing activities further south of the Mazagon dockyards. For their use, the Bhaucha Dhakka jetty was constructed in 1979. The jetty handles ferry services and maritime operations related to the commercial fishing industry.
The residential units at Bob Bungalow have a single room, with the washroom in one corner. The washroom offers privacy only through drawn curtains. The half-raised wall of the washroom is used to store water pots. The attic is used as an additional storage space. Residential units at Bob Bungalow have two entrances, one facing the corridor inside the building and the other facing the outside, from which an external stairway is used as a short cut.
View of Mazagon Dock from Gaondevi Temple on Mazagon Hill. Established in 1774 by the Wadia family of shipbuilders, the Mazagon Docks are primarily used for the construction of warships and submarines for the Indian Navy. This includes maintenance, upgrades, and modernization of ships and submarines to extend their operational lives. In addition, the docks are also used for the repair and refitting of old naval vessels.