Tag: mumbai

Prehistoric Sawfish caught near Mumbai, India.

sawfish_Mumbai_IndiaLocal fishermen caught Sawfish, also known as carpenter sharks near my dads hometown Satpatibeach almost 1 hr from Mumbai, India.

This prehistoric beautiful fish is a critically endangered species and face the threat of extinction as a result of habitat loss and overfishing.

Sawfish is a survivor from the Cretaceous period (66 million years ago), and can be found both in saltwater or in rivers and creeks, It may look like sharks but are actually more closely related to rays. Their “saw” is both a weapon and a sensory organ, Although usually peaceful, the sawfish can become extremely dangerous if provoked. this fishes was probably a staple food for the largest carnivorous dinosaur, as a vertebra from the fish was found stuck between the dinosaur’s teeth.

All the seven varieties of sawfish, including four from India, have been listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are also considered the most threatened marine fish.

Sawfish were once abundant in India’s coastal waters, but are rarely seen these days, as per the article in Hindu. Good thing is that the sawfish is alredy protected under the Wildlife Protection Act but education and awareness is needed

A good article from The Hindu http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sawfish-struggles-to-stay-afloat/article3487007.ece

I also found an old video from 2012 where fishermen caught a giant Sawfish in Daman, India

Landing in Mumbai, India on a hazy morning

View of the Suburban Mumbai through Plane on a hazy morning

The Mumbai Suburban district (Marathi: मुंबई उपनगर जिल्हा) is a district of the state of Maharashtra in western India. Its headquarters is in Bandra (Marathi:Vandre). It consists of three administrative subdivisions or tehsils: Kurla, Andheri, and Borivali.[1] The district along with Mumbai City district and other suburban communities make up the metropolis of Mumbai on Salsette Island. The district occupies an area of 369 km².[2]

This is the second smallest district of Maharashtra, and it administratively comes under Konkan Division.

The jurisdiction of Mumbai Suburban District is from Bandra to Dahisar, from Kurla (Chuna Bhatti) to Mulund and from Kurla up to Trombay Creek.

Mumbai Suburban District is one of the largest districts in the country by population. The current population is 9,332,481, according to the 2011 census, making it the fifth most populous district in India (out of 672).[3] The Mithi River is the main river in the district.

Landing in Mumbai, India on a hazy morning

My Birthday weekend In Mumbai, India

Ganpati

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival and Indian independence movement

The procession ends with the Immersion of Ganesh idols in the sea

Today the whole of India celebrates one of my favorite Hindu Festival Ganesh Chaturthi, The annual festival in honor of Ganesh or Ganapati, the elephant-headed deity who is known as the remover of obstacles and the god of auspiciousness. I don’t really follow any religion but I love the festivity and spirituality part of the religion. It’s the time of the year when you get some really nice food, meet friends and family and a holiday. Like for some other good things in India we do have to thank the British for this Public festival indirectly.

In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed the annual domestic festival into a large, well-organized public event, to unite Indians and mobilize them with nationalistic fervour needed to counter British rule.
Tilak recognized the wide appeal of the deity Ganesha as “the god for everybody”, and popularized Ganesh Chaturthi as a national festival in order “to bridge the gap between Brahmins (Upper Caste) and ‘non-Brahmins’, and generate nationalistic fervour among people in Maharashtra against the British colonial rule. Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesh in pavilions. It served as a meeting ground for people of all castes and communities in times when, in order to exercise control over the population, the British discouraged social and political gatherings.

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a great Sanskrit scholar and astronomer. “Swaraj (self-rule) is my birthright and I shall have it!” were the fiery words of Tilak which roused a sleeping nation to action, making Indian people aware of their political plight under a foreign rule. Tilak did not question the British Sovereignty nor his demands were rebellious or revolutionary. All he was asking was favourable conditions in India, to enable people to learn to govern themselves.

In its present form, the Ganapati festival Is transformed into the lavish spectacle, giant statues, massive pandals, processions of worshippers, and enthusiastic chants of Ganpati Bappa Moraya! In some case really loud remixed Bollywood music.
The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance. Days before the actual worship, homes are cleaned and marquees erected at street corners to house the idols of the Lord. Elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and flowers. The artisans who make the idols of Ganesh vie with each other to make bigger and better sculptures. The sizes of the relatively larger ones range anywhere from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These are installed in marquees and in homes prior to the Puja (worship). The festival comes to an end with immersing the holy idols in the sea.

Being in London, I really wish I was in Mumbai with my family and friends today and eating Modak (sweet steamed dumpling) favorite of Lord Ganesha and mine too.

Parag Sankhe Website