Saraswati Nakhva’s father’s fishing net once ensnared a wooden Ganesha from the sea. It depicts an eight-armed Natya Ganapati in a dancing posture, surrounded by smaller figures. The Nakhva house now proudly displays the cleaned and restored carving on its wall.
The drawing room is decorated with collectible items related to life at sea. Saraswati's brother, Om Prakash Nakhva, who worked as a marine engineer at the Colaba docks, acquired these items through customs office auctions.
In Koli tradition, the Tulsi plant holds great reverence and is situated in the courtyard of the home. Every evening, Meena Nakhva offers prayers at the Tulsi shrine, lighting incense sticks and a diya (oil lamp).
The kuladevata is the ancestral tutelary deity of the family kul (lineage), worshipped for the protection of family members. Khandoba is the kuladevata of the Nakhva family, with the main temple located in Jejuri, Pune district, Maharashtra.
Saraswati Narsu Nakhva, 85, resides in her ancestral home built by her father in Mazagaon Koliwada. She led an active life as a fisherwoman until retiring at 80 due to the severe impact of COVID-19 on her business.
Saraswati Nakhva remained unmarried and has spent her entire life at the family residence, which is a repository of her life’s memories. ‘I was born here, and I will die here. That is my wish,’ she says.
As the eldest surviving member of the family, Saraswati Nakhva serves as the custodian of the family home. She resides there with her sister-in-law, Meena Nakhwa, diligently maintaining the house her father had built with love and dedication.
Over time, the living spaces have deteriorated with each monsoon. Dilapidation and dampness have caused paint to peel off the walls, and cracks have appeared in several places due to a lack of renovation.
Koli fishermen bring freshly caught fish to designated landing centres, such as fishing docks, harbours, or beaches. Once ashore, they sort the fish based on their species, size, and quality, a task typically carried out by the fishermen or their family members.
Though the living quarters are small, one can feel the warmth that permeates closely-knit Koli homes. In Koli households, the concept of closed doors is virtually nonexistent. Neighbourhood children frequently visit and play, creating an atmosphere where the entire community feels like one big, extended household.