Versova Beach
Versova is a beach-village in Mumbai (Bombay) located in the suburb of Andheri. The beach faces the Arabian Sea. A large population of Mumbai's fishing community, the Kolis, resides and are the origins of the Mumbai residing at one end of Versova beach.
Vesawe is the original name of the village. The name comes from the term where Chatrapati Shivaji Raje would bring down his navy to have the rest after the war. The term Vesawe stands out to be "Rest" in Marathi language. Mumbai City has this same Koli village named Vesawe which is now termed as Versova, as now diverse communities resides in here.
Large scale occupation in this village is fishing, This village stands out to be culturally rich and lights up in joy in unique ways to celebrate each of its Festivals. Festivals in here are joy to watch. The important festival of this Koli community stands to be Coconut Day ... where Gold Coconut offerings are made to Sea God, Holi ...has its unique of celebrating it.
Unlike the Marine Drive, which is guarded by tetrapods, Versova beach uses massive rocks to buffer the buildings from the waves. During high tide, the entire beach goes under water. As a result, Versova beach doesn't have food stalls or food courts like Juhu beach. Nor does it have any lighting or illumination, Whereas huge flow of diversified people residing here have made some illegal hut sheds on outskirts of village, commonly the Kathwadi community which comes from Gujrat.
Over the past few years, there have been attempts by local citizens and the BMC to improve the condition of the beach. The Save Versova Beach Association was formed for the purpose. But the beach still lacks basic facilities such as those of lifeguards which are critical considering the treacherous waters here.
The beach, however is a favourite with couples who take shelter behind the rocks for a few moments of intimacy. Versova Beach also houses a few hundred illegal migrants (especially Kathwadi community) people living in huts. Every year, a few of these huts are washed away by the monsoon. Versova is the name of a fishing village in Mumbai. The name of the village in Marathi - the local language — is Vesave. BEST Bus number 251 and 249 can take you to Vesave from the Andheri Station (West). Versova Village have his Old Foundation named as "Vesawe Koli Samaj Trust" which organisation found in 1950. Sole motive of such organisation is to carry out religious and charitable works in village. Family deity for Kolis is Common that is Lord Khondoba which is originated from Jejuri and Ek-veera Mata at Karla Caves (Lonavla). As Fishing is the main source of these koli community, they are very much bound to their soil. As time change more and more educated graduates, engineers, doctors, software professional, BMS student are found these communities. More and more upgrowing young generation awaiting for govt. employment, they get registered them self for employment under employment exchange office and awaites for life time without any job opportunity.
Address: Andheri, Mumbai
Other Beaches in Mumbai