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Girgaon

Coordinates: 18°57′11″N 72°48′47″E / 18.953°N 72.813°E / 18.953; 72.813
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For the village in Talasari taluka, see Girgaon, Palghar.

Girgaon
गिरगाव
Town
Girgaon back road, c. 1905
Girgaon back road, c. 1905
Girgaon is located in Mumbai
Girgaon
Girgaon
Coordinates: 18°57′11″N 72°48′47″E / 18.953°N 72.813°E / 18.953; 72.813
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DistrictMumbai City
CitySouth Mumbai
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM)
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
400004

Girgaon is an area in southern Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. The Sanskrit term "Giri" stands for hills, whereas the word "gram" denotes a village. Thus, Girgaon means a village at the foothill of mountains. Girgaon occupies prime residential real estate because of its prominent location in South Mumbai.

The culture in Girgaon is diverse and varied. Like most areas of cosmopolitan Mumbai, residents span diverse languages, religions, traditions, festivals and attire.

History

Khetwadi, originally an area with a sparse population living off agriculture and plantations, developed in the mid-19th century with the widening of Parel road and the Girgaon road (then called the Breach Candy Road). In 1839, Grant Road was completed, leading to large-scale migration into this area. Girgaon got its own station much later at Charni Road which was opened in the year 1867. Today it has become a hub for diamond traders and wholesalers of almost all the traditional businesses.

There are a large number of temples in this area. The most well known is Thakurdwar, built by the ascetic Atmaram Baba, who died in 1838. The Kalbadevi temple, dedicated to Kali, was moved to its present site from its original location in Mahim during the rule of the Gujrati sultans.[citation needed] The Dadi Seth Agiary was built in 1783, the Hormusji Wadia Fire temple in 1839.

Areas

Khetwadi, Sikka Nagar in Girgaon, with numerous red tiled roofs, which are slowly being replaced by skyscrapers.
St. Teresa's Church in Girgaon.

Girgaon is a prominent cultural neighbourhood for Marathi people in Mumbai. Each area of Girgaon follows its own customs. Communities like the Marathi-speakers, Gujarati, Konkani, Jains, Marwaris, Christians and Hindus follow their own customs and rituals. They celebrate different festivals, follow different customs for birth, marriage, death and other important events. Therefore, while it is easy to sense that Girgaon is different from other societies, it is very difficult to define conclusively what is essentially Girgaon or to see how such a diversity of peoples and cultures can be related to one another.

This is also the area in which Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in great style. The area is filled with crowds when the Ganesh Visarjan is carried out. It is not only about Ganesh Chaturthi. Girgaon also celebrates other festivals with equal zest whether Diwali, Gokulashtami or Makar Sankranti.

Girgaon is further subdivided in small neighborhoods locally called as 'wadis'.

There are many such Wadi's in Girgaon namely - Kande Wadi , Gai Wadi , Ambe Wadi , Kudaldeshkar Wadi , Bhatwadi , Jitekar Wadi , FanasWadi , PimpleWadi , Urankar Wadi , Vaidyawadi, Bhutachi wadi etc. One of these- Khotachi wadi is very famous for its Portuguese style wooden architecture. It is mainly inhabited by Catholics and Maharashtrian Hindus. These houses are now largely being pulled down to make way for sky scrapers and now number less than half of what it was originally. Nevertheless, foreign tourists still throng these narrow lanes of Khotachi wadi as it is one of the very few heritage villages remaining within South Mumbai. Heritage walks are often conducted here by locals and history lovers.

Largely, Girgaon also includes the outer areas around it, like Sikka Nagar, some parts of Khetwadi, Prarthana Samaj, Opera House, C.P. tank, areas around Charni Road station and Girgaon Chowpatty.

Thakurdwar area in Girgaon is also home to the India tower - the proposed highest building in India. Girgaon has a sizable Parsi population and their religious structures known as Agyaries and Atash Behrams are dotted in and around Girgaon. Large parts in Girgaon are also under the Muslim and Christian graveyards and Hindu crematorium near Charni Road station and S.K. Patil Udyan popularly known as Japanese garden. Along Khetwadi is also the biggest metal and stainless steel market in India.

Festivals

Ganeshotsav is one of the most livingly celebrated Festival in Girgaon. Ganesh Idols like Girgaon Cha Raja , Girgaon Cha Vignaharta ,Girgaon Cha Maharaj , Girgaon Cha Ganraj ,are well known for being Ganeshotsav Mandals (Lord Ganesh festival local Group). Despite of various mandals here in Girgaon, there's a historic place of Keshavji Naik Chawl where Lokmanya Tilak visited Ganesh mandal in 1901 it will complete its 125 years of celebration this year (2017), also there is JitekarWadi Famous for there idols made using unusual materials like soil and fiber, that includes idols made of dry fruits, marbles and rice.

Mumbai's Top 6 Oldest Ganpati and Ganeshotsav Mandal are in Girgaon.

1. Keshavji Naik chawl's Ganpati is the first Ganpati and Ganeshotsav mandal of Mumbai, Keshavji Naik Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1893 to bring equality amongst people and fight against Britishers for freedom.

2. JitekarWadi's Ganpati is the second Ganpati of Mumbai, Jitekarwadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1894 Then Ganeshotsav started getting crowd attention from people of Mumbai in large numbers due to decoration and plays.

3. Jagannath Chawl's Ganpati is the 3rd oldest Ganpati of Mumbai, Jagannath Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1896 and it shares 3rd place with another mandal (Kaamat Chawl) of Girgaon.

3. Kaamat Chawl's Ganpati is also the 3rd oldest Ganpati of Mumbai which shares 3rd place with another mandal (Jagannath Chawl). Kaamat Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1896 in Girgaon.

4. Bedekar Sadan's Ganpati is the 4th oldest Ganpati of Mumbai. Bedekar Sadan Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in Girgaon in 1901. This mandal shares 4th place with another mandal (Gangaram Khatri Wadi).

4. Gangaram Khatri'Wadi's Ganpati is the 4th oldest Ganpati of Mumbai. Gangaram Khatri Wadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1901. This mandal shares 4th place with another mandal (Bedekar Sadan).

5. Pandurang Balibhadhri Chawl's Ganpati is the 5th oldest Ganpati of Mumbai. Pa.Ba. Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1902.

6. Somnath Chawl's Ganpati is the 6th oldest Ganpati of Mumbai. Soman Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal was established in 1904.

Transportation

Charni Road railway station serves Girgaon.

Girgaon Metro Station - This is a proposed metro station coming up in the area.

Schools in Girgaon

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Girgaum.
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