East by West

There's a renewed interest in Mumbai's East Indian community, especially its cuisine

- Priya Pathiyan

Heritage walks through Mumbai's East Indian precincts of Khotachiwadi and Mathar Pakhady, and villages like Ranwar, Sherly-Rajan, Chuim, Waroda and more in Bandra are becoming popular. Annual festivals in these areas are increasingly being attended by people from outside the fold, with Khotachiwadi Alive celebrating its fourth edition recently. Eminent designer James Ferreira (who welcomes guests into his 200-year-old East Indian bungalow via Airbnb) and other prominent East Indians are working to create more awareness about this unique community. Archaeologist and researcher Dr André Baptista, an East Indian and fourth-generation resident of Khotachiwadi, says, "The East Indians had ancestors who were the original residents of Mumbai. Even today, they may identify as Koli, Agri, Kunbi, etc., but the main thing linking them all is Roman Catholicism."