Koli Christians

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Koli Christians
ईसाई कोळी
Chapel of Jesus, Worli Koliwada, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Christian Kolis.jpg
Chapel of Jesus, Worli Koliwada, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Christian Kolis
Classification Koli people
Kuladevta (male) Sacred Name of Jesus Christ
Kuladevi (female) Mount St Mary
Nishan Christian cross
Religions Christianity
Languages
Country India
Original state
Ethnicity Marathi-Konkani
Population9000 (1989)
Feudal title
Related groups Goan Christians, Mangalorean Christians & Karwari Christians
StatusEndangered
Kingdom (original) Portuguese Bombay, Colaba state etc.

Koli Christians [1] are Koli people who profess Christianity in India, they are part of the Koli caste of Bombay East Indians, who are the indigenous ethnic people of the Seven Islands of Bombay, the Bombay metropolitan area & the northern Konkan region; in which lies the city of Mumbai (Bombay). [2] The Koli Christians continue to hold on to some of their Koli customs/ values as the part of Koli caste, in spite of their conversions from Brahmanism to Christianity & in the former Bom Bahia of Portuguese India. [3] Christian Kolis are also known as Thankar & Gaonkar Kolis; they played an important role in building churches & convents in the northern Konkan division of present-day Maharashtra. [4]

Contents

Culture and custom

Cross and Mother Mary (in Koli saree), in Worli Koliwada, Christian Koli's temple of Mumbai Cross and Mother Mary, Worli Koliwada, Christian Koli's temple of Mumbai.jpg
Cross and Mother Mary (in Koli saree), in Worli Koliwada, Christian Koli's temple of Mumbai

In 1989, there were approximately 9,000 Koli Christians, most of whom were fishermen, like their Hindu counterparts. [5] Koli Christians blend the customs and traditions of the Koli people with the beliefs of the Catholic Church . In accordance with Koli tradition, marriages among Koli Christians are typically arranged, and certain ceremonies are observed in common with Hindu Kolis, such as the Shakarpura (engagement ceremony), while Christian practices are also observed, including the conducting of the wedding in a church. [2] Although cross cousin and first cousin marriage has been generally practiced among the Hindu Maharashtri Kolis, the Bombay East Indian Koli Christians are forbidden through catechism (instructions) on the Sacrament of Matrimony. [6]

Most Koli Christians live in Koliwadas, where their social lives are overseen by a patil and his karbaris (councillors). [5] Holding their position by right of inheritance, these people are collectively known as the jamat. The bulk of Koli Christians fish for a living, with their catches being taken to market in Mumbai by fishwives or agents. [7]

Conversion

The Kolis of the Konkan division in Maharashtra converted to Christianity during the Portuguese Indian era, and they proved very helpful during the wartime because they were experts in boat and warships building. [8] [9]

Titles

Distribution

Christian Kolis are mostly found in the Mumbai , Colaba, Worli, Chimvai (Bandra), Madh, Uttan, Gorai, Bassein (Vasai) & Aghasi (Agacaim) in Maharashtra. [12] In Gorai, 85% population are Christian Kolis. [13]

Beliefs

Some Christian Kolis worship both Hindu idols and the Christian God. [14] [ failed verification ] Christian Kolis also venerate the Hindu Koli goddess Ekvira in the Karla Caves and the deity Bhairava in Jejuri. [15] Christian Kolis dress up statues of St Mary in their ethnic Koli saris. [16]

Classification

The Koli Christians of Maharashtra are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) by the National Commission for Backward Classes and the Government of Maharashtra [17] and Government of Goa. [18]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Tanya, Anisha Rachel Oommen & Aysha (16 March 2018). "To learn the secrets of East Indian food, you need to read this rare committee-written recipe book". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 James 1977.
  3. ↑ Punekar 1959, p. 17.
  4. ↑ Baptista, Elsie Wilhelmina (1967). The East Indians: Catholic Community of Bombay, Salsette and Bassein. New Delhi: Bombay East Indian Association. p. 44.
  5. 1 2 Narain 1989, p. 135.
  6. ↑ Narain 1989, p. 140.
  7. ↑ Narain 1989, p. 136.
  8. ↑ Sudarsen, V. (1995). Knowledge of the Sea: Some Maritime Communities in India. New Delhi: PPST Foundation. p. 36.
  9. ↑ Pillai, S. Devadas (1997). Indian Sociology Through Ghurye, a Dictionary. New Delhi: Popular Prakashan. p. 325. ISBN   978-81-7154-807-1.
  10. ↑ Punekar 1959, p. 27.
  11. ↑ Sharma, Kalpana (14 October 2000). Rediscovering Dharavi. Penguin UK. ISBN   978-93-5118-103-3.
  12. ↑ The Times of India Annual. New Delhi. 1969. p. 41.
  13. ↑ Bapat, Jyotsna C. (14 June 2005). Development Projects and A Critical Theory of Environment. SAGE Publications India. ISBN   978-81-321-0211-3.
  14. ↑ Soni, Paroma (13 March 2021). "'One cup of kadak chai': How Mumbai's Koli women survived the coronavirus pandemic". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  15. ↑ David, M. D. (1973). History of Bombay, 1661-1708. New Delhi: University of Bombay. p. 429.
  16. ↑ D'Silva, Ann (7 January 2019). Sand & Sea: Footprints in the Sand. Notion Press. ISBN   978-1-68466-578-5.
  17. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes". www.ncbc.nic.in. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  18. ↑ Bhosale, Balkrishna Vithal (2004). Mobilisation of Backward Communities in India. New Delhi: Deep & Deep. p. XXV. ISBN   978-81-7629-588-8.

Sources

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