Which community in Mumbai celebrates the Koli festival Narali Purnima?

The Koli people of Mumbai celebrate Narali Purnima, a coastal festival associated with the monsoon and fishing season.

Narali Purnima is observed on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, usually in July or August. Koli fishing communities offer coconuts to the sea and seek protection and prosperity before resuming fishing after the monsoon period.

The coconut gives the festival its name: naral means coconut in Marathi, while purnima refers to the full moon. Songs, dances, decorated boats, special clothing, and coconut-based foods are part of celebrations in coastal Maharashtra.

The event is sometimes loosely labeled a harvest festival because it marks a seasonal transition and expresses hope for abundance. More precisely, it is a maritime community festival centered on the sea, fishing, monsoon rhythms, and the Koli cultural identity. Its connection to Mumbai is especially strong in neighborhoods with historic Koli settlements.