Koli households commonly place the Tulsi planter at the entrance as a religious decoration. They come in a variety of materials, designs, and sizes. The plant is considered an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi (or Vrinda), who is an avatar of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and the consort of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, the offering of Tulsi leaves is part of the ritual worship of Vishnu and his avatars, like Krishna and Vithoba.
The women in the household are often responsible for offering puja. Rituals involve watering the plant, purifying the space around the plant with water and cow dung, and making offerings of food, flowers, incense, gangajal (water of the River Ganga), etc. In the evening, arati (the ritual of offering the sacred fire) is conducted around the Tulsi plant.
The presence of a Tulsi plant at the entrance of the home is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energies and provide spiritual protection to the household. Even the soil around the plant is considered holy.
The unique designs of Tulsi planters have an individual stamp of creativity, indicative of the family’s social status, traditional means of livelihood, and idiosyncratic style.
Versova's colloquial name is Vesave, which derives from the Marathi-Konkani word for rest (as in, a resting place for ships and seafarers), likely connected to its importance as a harbor.
The Kolis are one of the early inhabitants of Mumbai, and their Koliwadas are among the oldest continuous settlements in the city, having existed for centuries.
The procession makes its way through the lanes of Versova Koliwada, accompanied by revelry and dancing on the streets. Though organized by the Kolis, people from all communities join the festivities.
Janmashtami celebrations at Versova are centred around the Ram Mandir. The main deity of the temple is Lord Ram, along with other deities such as Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman.