From Borivali To Bandra: How Did Mumbai’s Iconic Localities Get Their Names?

We all have heard a lot of things about the city of dreams- Mumbai. From how the city never sleeps to its beautiful localities. But have you ever wondered how these beautiful localities got their names? Recently, a social media content creator took to her Instagram handle to share the history behind Mumbai and its iconic localities’ names, and it will definitely surprise you. Take a look!

The Real Reason Behind Mumbai’s Localities’ Names

 

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A post shared by Hennah Satra (@henniyaps) 

A city born from seven islands is known today for its shore and beaches, but once echoed with the songs of Kolis and Agris.  We all have heard Mumbai localities like Boisar, Dahisar, Ovri Pada and many others that have a similar suffix, but what is the real meaning behind them?

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Social Media creator Hennah Satra (henniyaps) took to her Instagram account to reveal the history behind Mumbai’s localities’ names. In the video, she asks, “Boisar, Poisar, Daisar, Agri Pada, Devi Pada, Kokni Pada. How many places in Mumbai can you name which end with suffixes like Pada, Wada, Wali?” She then went on to explain the reason behind it. She stated, “This naming was not at all random. Mumbai’s original inhabitants were tribes like Agris, Kodis, and Kundis. And most of the places that we have in Mumbai are an amalgamation of the languages of these tribes, combined with a little bit of Portuguese and a little bit of Prakrit. So the suffix “Pada” basically means a small village or a small hamlet where agriculture used to happen. The suffix “Wada” is attached to a place where a community used to live.”

What Does Kandivli And Borivali Means?

She further explained the different suffixes like ‘Sar’ and ‘Wadi’. She said, “Sar is attached to the places where there is a water body nearby, like a river or a lake.  And Wadi or Wali is added to places that are forested with a lot of trees.” She then explained how Dahisar or Daha Sar is a combination of 10 small villages, and there is also a river that flows through it. However, she also went ahead and gave her own theory on the reason behind Ovri Pada’s name and said, ” I’m sure we’ve all had our doubts about that one. But according to me, it means a place where the houses had verandahs or small attached temples right outside the house.” Additionally, she revealed the real meaning behind Kandivali, which means a forested land that has a lot of mangrove trees. And Borivali means a forested land which has a lot of boar trees.

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Well, this creator surely helped us understand the real reason behind Mumbai’s localities better. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/Hennah Satra, Wikimedia Commons/Vishnu Bullet