East Indians (ethnic group)

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East Indians are a Marathi-speaking ethnic or sub-ethnic group, based in and around the city of Mumbai in western Indian state of Maharashtra. These people are of the original Marathi ethnic group and had been evangelized under Portuguese auspices. It is alleged that they were converted by force. However, they have retained their pre-Christian traditions to a large extent as well. Although, they are Christians, they are unrecognizable from their Marathi Hindu counterparts.

1 Origin Of Name
2 Culture
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Origin Of Name

The history behind the name is such: Bombay was formerly under the Portuguese in the 1500's; and East-indians were then known as Bombay Portuguese. Bombay then became increasingly anglicized after the handover to the British in the 1600s. Under the British, they were known as Bombay Portuguese too, but, when immigrants from Portuguese-ruled Goa began to enter Bombay, in order to distinguish themselves from the Goans (whom the British also called Portuguese), they renamed themselves "East Indians", purportedly after their affiliation to the British or colonials by culture and by blood, and more importantly to the British East India Company, in order to demonstrate their loyalty to the British, and as locals of Bombay as distinguished from the Goans.

[edit] Culture

The East Indian culture is unique. Although, they have preserved their pre-Christian Marathi culture and traditions, many Portuguese and Anglican influences have been absorbed. Their language is almost exclusively Marathi. However, the urban section is fluent in English as well. The language of the Samvedi Christians is a dialect of Marathi known as "Samvedi". The East Indian cuisine ia unique blend of Koli, Marathi, Anglican and Portuguese cuisine. They still retain many of the practises of pre-Christian tradition. Most of the East Indian women wear typical Maharashtrian saree and Koli dresses. They also wear "tikali" (bindi) and "mangalsutra". The East Indians of Vasai also practise the pre-Christian tradition of visiting the Vajreshwari temple every year.