A father teaches his child to ring a temple bell. Ringing the bell is considered a way to invite the deity and announce one's presence. The sound of the bell is believed to dispel negative energies and purify the environment.
A niche in the garbhagriha houses goddess Parvati, the embodiment of Shakti, the divine feminine power. Maha Shivaratri is a celebration of the divine union of Shiva and Shakti. Their relationship symbolizes the ideal marital bond and the balance of masculine and feminine energies in the universe.
Aarti (the waving of a flame, usually from a lit lamp, before a deity during prayers) is accompanied by the ringing of bells, the chanting of mantras, and the distribution of prasad (blessed food) among the devotees.
Children apply bhasma (sacred ash) to their forehead, face, and arms. In Shaivism, bhasma (also known as vibhuti) reminds devotees of the transient nature of life, as it is a product of fire and symbolizes the ultimate reality of death and the dissolution of the physical body.
Worli Koliwada has a small population of Muslims. This dargah (structure that houses the tomb or shrine of a saint) is the sole Islamic shrine in Worli village.
A statue of Jesus Christ standing in a wooden boat that is the kind Kolis use for fishing. Christian Kolis use this type of iconography to integrate their Christian faith with their primary source of livelihood.
It is believed that two female saints are buried at the dargah. Due to this reason, women are permitted to visit and offer prayers at the mazar (tomb or shrine of a saint).
The inner sanctum (garbagriha) inside the Maruti Temple is made from stone, with a circumambulatory path going around it. In front of the garbagriha is a spacious mandap used for prayers and congregations. Devotees gather here to chant the Hanuman Chalisa and sing bhajans.
The oldest surviving structure in the village is Worli Fort, which has a shrine devoted to Lord Hanuman. Overlooking Mahim Bay, this small fort served as a watchtower against piracy, which was rife in the Arabian Sea from the sixteenth century to the eighteenth century.