Koli Christians

Subgroup of the Koli caste in Konkan division of Maharashtra

Koli Christians

ईसाई कोळी

Chapel of Jesus, Worli Koliwada, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Christian Kolis

Classification| Koli ethnic group
Kuladevta (male)| Sacred Name of Jesus Christ
Kuladevi (female)| Mount St Mary
Nishan| Christian cross
Religions| Christianity
Languages|

* Bombay East Indian dialect
* Konkani
* Koli:
* Kachi Koli
* Parkari Koli
* Wadiyara Koli
* English
* Hindi-Urdu (Bombay Hindi)
* Damaon and Dio Portuguese creole

Country| India
Original state|

* Maharashtra
* Goa
* Gujarat
* Damaon

Ethnicity| Koli ethnic group
Population| 9000 (1989)
Feudal title|

* Patil
* Gaonpatil

Related groups| Christianity Christianity
Status| Part of Koli ethnic group
Kingdom (original)| Portuguese Bombay, Colaba state etc.

Koli Christians[1] are Koli ethnic group who profess Christianity in India, they are part of the Koli ethnic group Bombay East Indians, who are the indigenous ethnic people of the Seven Islands of Bombay and the Bombay metropolitan area, which is now also called Mumbai (Bombay).[2] The Koli Christians were the part of Koli ethnic group , before their conversion by the Portuguese from Kolis to Christianity, in the former Bom Bahia of Portuguese India.[3] Christian Kolis are also known as Thalkar and Gaonkar Kolis, they played an important role in building churches & convents in the northern Konkan division of present-day Maharashtra.[4]

## Culture and custom

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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

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See also: Christianisation of Goa

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

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* Patil: Christian Kolis who were landlords, nobles or men of influence bore the title of Patil. These were responsible for maintaining the religious practices and order in community of Koli Christians.[10]
* Gaonpatil: The Gaonpatil is a common title among Christian Kolis who are responsible for maintaining religious activities and caste practices.[11]

## Distribution

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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

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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

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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

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* List of Koli people
* List of Koli states and clans
* Christian Brahmins
* Christian Cxatrias
* Religion in India

## References

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### Citations

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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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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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* James, V. (1977). "Marriage Customs of Christian Son Kolis". Asian Folklore Studies. 36 (2): 131–148\. doi:10.2307/1177821. ISSN 0385-2342. JSTOR 1177821. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
* Narain, Dhirendra (1989). Research in sociology: abstracts of M.A. and Ph. D. dissertations completed in the Department of Sociology, University of Bombay. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-235-4. University of Bombay. Dept. of Sociology; Indian Council of Social Science Research.
* Punekar, Vinaja B. (1959). The Son Kolis of Bombay. New Delhi: Popular Book Depot.