5 Places selling Bengali Fishes in Mumbai

Bengali and fish are synonymous (well almost). Therefore when a Bengali lands in a new city the first thing they do is search for the places where they would get fishes.
Mumbai thankfully is a city where fishes are available in abundance. Being next to the sea variety of sea fishes like Pompret, Bangda, Surmai and Rawas are available. Other Bengali favourites like crabs and prawns are also available all over the maximum city. But the staple Bengali river water sweet fishes are not available everywhere. If you are looking for our favourites Illish, Pabda, Tyangra, Chitol, Bhetki and Boyal then you need to scour a little bit. Below is the list of five fish markets in Mumbai where fresh Bengali sweet water fishes are available.


1) Vashi sector 9: The fish market in Vashi supplies mostly Bengali fishes. On a Sunday it’s mood resembles Gariahat or Jogubabur Bajar. The scenario is similar, everybody scouring for the best fish. You will get mostly all kinds of Bengali fish. The fish sellers are helpful and they will even get you fishes as per request.


2) 4 Bunglows, Andheri (W): This is a big fish market but only two fish sellers sell Bengali fishes. The first stall, owner named Biju and the last stall, owner name Amar. They sell only Bengali fishes. Expectedly they are crowded on Sundays, when they keep the best catch. Here you will find Padmar Illish, Chitol,Pabda and likes. Most of the fishes come from Kolkata. They are fresh. On a Sunday many Bengalis including celebrities from Western Suburbs gather here to buy fish.


3) Thakur Complex Kandivali East: Two shops sell Bengali fish here. The names are “Parthos” and “Fresh Bajar”. These shops bring their fishes from Kolkata and Bangladesh. The fishes are fresh and they nicely de-scale and cut the fish. Here fishes like Koi, Puti, Parshe and Morola are available.


4) Star Bazaar, Andheri (W): Here frozen Bengali fishes are available. As this is a supermarket the shopping is slightly hassle free. If you are the kind of person who hate to stand in a queue sweating than this one is your go-to place.


5) Khar: Good varieties of fishes are available here as well. They are fresh and tasty.

Rani Mukherjee's Durga Puja

North Bombay Bengali Association or popularly known as the Mukherjee Barir pujo. Since last two years this puja is being held at Tulip Star hotel at Juhu. If you are a big bollywood fan then this puja should be in your must visit list. Here you would be able to see lots of stars. The Mukherjee family members like Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Sarbani Mukherjee and Aayan Mukherjee even serve the bhog.
Cultural programme by noted artist are held every evening after the Sandhya aarti. The bhog is open to all but usually you will have to stand in a long queue to be served by the stars.

Powai Sarbojanin

Powai Sarbojanin near Hiranandani Powai is another big puja. This one is also organised at a huge ground therefore quite spread out. Food stalls serving Bengali food is available. In Powai the evening cultural event is open to all. Every year they bring artists from Kolkata for the show. Powai was the first one in Mumbai to host “Balmiki Protibha” performed by the inmates of Kolkata jail.

Lokhandwala Sarbojanin

Lokhandwala Sarbojanin at Lokhandwala Andheri (W). Popularly known as the Puja of singer Abhijeet. It is one of the biggest in Mumbai. The area for this Puja is huge and the ambience is reminiscent of Maddox square. Stalls for Bengali saree and artefacts are an added attraction. Food stall by speciality group (the group with chains like Mainland China, siggri, sweet Bengal) serves a variety of food including Bengali sweets. Dhakis come from Bengal and everyday in the evening there is a special Dhaki dance which you ought not to miss. Cultural programmes by well known artists are there every evening, but entry is by invitation only. Khichudi Bhog is served on all four days. It is open to all and very well organised.

Mumbai's Durga Pujas

If you are a Bengali and new in Mumbai and destined to stay here during the upcoming Durga Puja don’t feel home sick. Mumbai is next to Kolkata in terms of number of Durga Pujas. You can hop at least 200 pandals within those four days. You will get here everything from egg roll to chandannagarer lighting, dhunuchi naach to dhaker kathi and khichudi with labra to saradiya sankhya during those four days. Most Pandals organise cultural programmes where artists from Kolkata are flown in. Numerous stalls adjacent to the Pandals sell everything from sankha pola to dhakai jamdani, and gourmet things like bori, radhuni and khejur gur. The food stalls overflow with Bengali foods like aloo chop, beguni, ghughni and moghlai parota. Therefore relax and treat yourself to Bengali food, music and the quintessential adda. Here is a pictorial round-up of Mumbai’s Durga Puja.

Chandannagar Lighting at Vashi

Puja Pandal at Koparkhairane




Pandal Decoration at Chembur

Dhaki at the Lokhandwala or Abhijeet's Puja

Queue for Bhog at Mukherjee Barir Pujo

Aatpoure Durga Protima at Thakur Village Kandivali

The Bengal Club at Shivaji Park is the oldest Pujo of Mumbai

Lokhanwala Sarbojanin had LED lighting