A one-day forest experience in Thane’s Mahuli village will put seasonal wild food on the platter for Mumbaikars with adventurous palates
A traditional thali featuring wild vegetables. PICS COURTESY/ATUL KATDARE
Why step out when an app can deliver fresh veggies to your doorstep in 10 minutes? Ask the Katkari, Mahadev Koli, Warli and Thakar tribes in Mahuli village. Every year, at this time in the Shahpur Hills in Thane district, the tribals venture into thick forests to harvest Korla, Loth, Raankeli and Bafli among other wild vegetables. This weekend, they’re feeling generous, we learn. Raanbhaji Mahotsav (Wild Veggies Festival) will give urban dwellers a seat at the table for a limited-time taste-test.
Tribals prepare food using a wood-fire stove in their home
“I brought home some wild bamboo shoots from Dadar market a few years ago on my friend’s suggestion. When I tried cooking it, I realised it requires more know-how than I had imagined. That sparked a deeper exploration,” says organiser Atul Katdare. At the day-long festival in the heart of Mahuli, local tribes will showcase their techniques in an open kitchen powered by wood-fired stoves.
Participants on the Mahuli trail
There’s more to the day than just a hearty meal. In collaboration with the Into The Past Heritage Research team, participants will get a guided tour of the village’s flora and fauna on a beginner’s trail. “The village is at the base of a trifecta of Maratha forts — Mahuli, Palasgad, and Bhandargad. While we won’t go trekking, given the rainy conditions, the base is home to many old temples that have stood the test of time,” Katdare explains.
Atul Katdare
The invitation into the lesser-known hamlet is a fair deal for the locals, he assures us. “When you buy these vegetables from intermediaries for marked up prices, you’re doing the locals a disservice. Tribal farmers travel to the city and its far suburbs from time to time, to sell their produce. It’s always wiser to buy your vegetables from them. A major share of the proceeds from our tour will go towards compensating the local residents for their time and efforts,” the organiser assures us, before signing off.
ON September 28; 10 am to 5 pm
AT Mahuli Village, Asangaon, Thane. (meeting point revealed on registration)
LOG ON TO @bhovara.b3
CALL 9969285045
ENTRY Revealed on request
The Guide's top picks
Korla calling
The leaves of the seasonal Kolheri or Fang plant might visually resemble the more common methi or fenugreek leaves. Natives believe Korla packs vitamins and antioxidants.
All in for alu
Raan Alu is the wild counterpart of the Maharashtrian staple, Alu. If cooked incorrectly, the microscopic needle-like structures can land you in a sticky situation. Local residents use tamarind to turn the leaves edible.
Very berry healthy
On the nature trail at Mahuli, keep an eye out for the shrubs of Karvanda. These wild berries make for a healthy snack to munch on, or incorporate in your pickles, jams and chutneys.
Go for glory
The morning glory flowers will be in bloom just in time for your visit. Admire, but don’t pluck these bright pink flowers.
Temple run
Join a local historian in learning the stories behind age-old temples. Some of these are home to monoliths with engravings that open a window to the hamlet’s past.
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