East Indians (ethnic group)

Infobox Ethnic group
group= East Indians Catholics.
langs=Marathi
rels=Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
region1=flagicon|India Mumbai (India)
region2=flagicon|India Maharashtra (India)
region3= flagicon|Arab League Arab states of the Persian Gulf
region4=
related=Marathi people, Kuparis, Indo-Aryans
footnotes=

East Indians are a Marathi-speaking, Roman Catholic ethnic group, based in and around the city of Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई ) in the state of Maharashtra [http://www.east-indians.com/history.pdf] . These people are of the original Marathi ethnic group and had been evangelized by the Portuguese, while retaining much of their pre-Christian traditions.

History

Bombay was formerly under the Portuguese in the 1500s; 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 as locals of Bombay and as such to be distinguished from the Goans and the Mangaloreans.

Culture

Although, they have preserved their pre-Christian Marathi culture and traditions, many Portuguese and influences have been absorbed. Their language is almost exclusively Marathi. However, the urban section is fluent in English as well. A village of East-Indians who to this day speak Portuguese. The language of the Shamedi Christians is a dialect of Marathi known as Shamedi. The East Indian cuisine is a unique blend of Koli, Marathi, 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 [ [http://www.east-indians.com/marriagesongs.htm The East Indian Community | Original Inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette & Thana ] ] . They also wear "tikali" (bindi) and "mangalsutra". The East Indians of Vasai also practise the pre-Christian tradition of visiting the Vajrayogini temple every year.

There are five broad cultural groups of East Indians - Kulbis ,Samvedi Christians, Koli Christians, Vadvals, Salsette Christians and the urbanized section.

CusineThe Cusine is a 'fusion' of Portuguese and Indian.

Prominent East Indians

*Gonsalo Garcia: Roman Catholic saint from India
*Nicole Narain: American Model and actress (partial East Indian descent)
*Maria Goretti : MTV VJ India
*Kaka Baptista ( Thomas Baptista ): Indian Freedom Fighter, Founding Member of the Indian National Congress India
*""Luke Mendes"". A Film maker and member of BIPA - Bombay's Indigenous People's Association.

Politics

ports

Business

ee also

*Kupari
*Marathi people
*East Indian
*Portuguese India

References

External links

* [http://www.east-indians.com/ East-Indians.com]
* [http://www.east-indians.net/ East-Indians.net]
* [http://www.eastindiansongs.com/ eastindiansongs.com]
* [http://www.eastindians.blogspot.com/ eastindians.blogspot.com]