'Samwad Khadicha', an ongoing fest which discusses the importance of creeks in Mumbai

The festival cum exhibition by the name of 'Samvad Khadicha - A reflection of Mumbai's past, present and future is being held to raise awareness among the Mumbaikars regarding the importance of creeks and the ecosystem around them. The fest commenced on the 25th of August and will continue till the 28th, at Shantivan, Mandvi Gully, and Versova Koliwada.

Reportedly, the fest was jointly organised by the Ministry of Mumbai's (MMM) Magic, a city-based collective which works towards educating and uniting the youth over environmental issues, and Bombay 61, an organisation of architects and urban designers. The fest is aimed at making people aware of the importance and current status of creeks by discussing crucial topics, and innovative solutions.

Being a coastal city, Mumbai consists of many prime creeks such as Thane Creek, Gorai Creek, Vasai Creek, Malad Creek, Mahul Creek and Mahim Creek which have been impacted on different scales due to urbanisation.

Notably, Koli and the Warli communities that live around the creeks play a significant role in the conservation, and are also dependent on their livelihood, since they are mostly fishermen or farmers. Presenting a fine example of mutualism, both these communities and creeks are interdependent on each other. The degradation of the water system has not only affected the creeks but also the communities living around them.

Furthermore, the exhibition started with a video screening, which showed the removal of over 500 kg of plastic waste from the surrounding creeks. The exhibition included different narratives and quotes from the locals along with the showcase of photographs of the city's water systems from the 1950s to the present day.

Other than the exhibition, video screenings and culture talk, the fest also includes a food festival and a cycling tour to explore the creek area.