Vanakkam to Matunga
Matunga is one of the first well planned localities set in the heart of Mumbai city. As its history states, Matunga formed a part of the seven original islands of Mumbai with Mahim, then known as 'Mahikavati'.The 13th century king Bhimdeo of Mahikavati supposedly stationed his elephants at Matunga. Elephants are called 'Matanga' in Sanskrit and that's how 'Matunga' got its name centuries ago. During its early days in the last century, Matunga wore a predominantly South Indian texture in its look and culture (mainly Tamil Brahmin, Palakkad Iyers or Pattars as they are called).The 1960's and 1970's saw a huge number of South Indians migrate to Mumbai from their villages in South India. The Tam Brahms, proud of their roots, replicated their ecosystem back home in Matunga. Those were the days, a South Indian man would walk the streets of Matunga in his traditional dhoti or mundu and feel so much at home.The mornings in Matunga mean...