Dahanu

Location

Dahanu is located 65 km north of Virar on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Railway. It can be reached from National Highway NH-8, 24 km off from Charoti Naka. It is 22 km North of Boisar on the Western Railway line. Nearby Sai temple is located in Narpad. Also famous for Mahalaxmi Temple located just 4 km from Charoti.

The Town

The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word "Dhenu Gram" meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu has become a major commercial and industrial town in the Palghar district. It is well known for rose gardens, coconut groves and the chickoo fruit and aer 35% of Maharashtra's chickoo production. Rubber balloons, rice mills and manufactured goods, are major manufacturing products which are produced in Dahanu. There is also a 2x250MW power plant that supplies electricity to Mumbai. The electricity is distributed by Reliance Energy.

Dahanu, a peaceful seaside town with a sprawling, uncluttered beach. The Dahanu-Bordi stretch is 17 km. Irani settlers were first to cultivate chickoo in Dahanu. Dahanu is lined with fruit orchards and is favored for its chickoo fruit. Lycees is also grown and exported to Gholwad. Accessible from Dahanu is Udwada—a significant place of worship for the Zoroastrians—with a large, nifty temple that houses their sacred fire. This fire has been kept alive for almost a thousand years.

Earlier, Dahanu was also famous for Tadi (palm tree juice) business which was controlled by Shinwarbhai Jogibhai Kadu, his brother Bangyabhai Jogibhai Kadu and their family. They were one of the richest families in the town, along with other Iranians.

Dahanu is governed by Dahanu Municipal Council which is responsible for all the civic infrastructure and administration of the town. Mrs. Ramila Manoj Patil is the current president of the Dahanu Municipal Council and its chief officer is Mr. Vinod Dawle.

History

Dahanu is an ancient town with a long history. It was settled probably as early as 500 CE. Some records show possible settlement as early as 150 BC. The prominent tribes in the area whose names are unknown (dravidian tribes) were displaced by Aryan Tribes. The Warli tribe is among these first semi Aryan tribes. They seem to have accepted a minority of Dravid tribes into their community. The reasons for nomadic lifestyle are unknown. All these developments are before 100 CE and are in reference to Dahanu area rather than Dahanu village.

Later the village was settled. Soon it attracted many other communities like Tribals, Gujaratis and CKP community. Later the Zoroastrians arrived too. It was frequented by Arab travellers. By the 1490s, the Portuguese established their influence on the region. The region was under De Facto control of Portuguese from circa 1495 to 1540. Before this, it was under weak administration of Sultan of Gujarat. The Maratha Conquest of Thane and Vasai caused great damage to their influence as well as dominance over the region. The Inquisition established at Goa and other Portuguese Colonies fueled this change of power. During their reign, Portuguese built a small church to convert people to Christianity. This plan backfired and caused great discontent among people. The church fell in ruins and was destroyed before 1940.

Dahanu enjoyed good treatment from Marathas and relatively low taxes. In 1818, with fall of Maratha Empire, it went under British rule. An unnamed officer was assassinated in the town by villagers over some dispute in the 1870s. Its details are unknown. The town became a part of Independent India after its Struggle for Independence. After the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement the Dahanu Taluka along with Talasari Taluka and Mumbai city became a part of Maharashtra state on 1 May 1960.

Colleges and institutes

There are the following colleges and institutes in Dahanu:-

English medium schools

There are also English middle schools including

Other schools

1. Pujya Acharya Bhise Vidyalay Kasa 2. Balakanji Bari High School Bapugaon 3. Surya nagar High school Waghadi 4. K.L. Ponda High School, Parnaka, Dahanu 5. H & H J Vakil Model High School. 6. S P H Highschool, Bordi 7. A.J.Mahatre high School, Narpad 8. H.M.P.High School, Masoli. 9. Vakil Model High School, Masloi 10.K.K.Mistry High School, Savta 11.Seva Vidya Mandir Adivasi High School & Jr. College Arts Gangangaon Dahanu

Social entrepreneurship

The virtual platform for social development activities, AYUSH group is initiated by tribal youth from Dahanu taluka. AYUSH stands for Adivasi Yuva Shakti, an online platform with technological touch for tribal development activities. Base operated from Waghadi, near Kasa about 25 km from Dahanu Station. This group has been organized various program for Education and career guidance to students, preserving traditional knowledge, art and cultural values of Tribal community. With the help of social network it is acting like think tank for Tribal empowerment. They initiated efforts for registration of Intellectual Property Right Registration on behalf of tribal community for Warli Art, Now it is registered as Geographical Indication.

Tourism

Dahanu is ideal destination for Rural Tourism. Dahanu Darshan part of world-famous concept "Tribal Tourism" created by AYUSH group covers many places close to nature. Dahanu is famous for its beaches namely Parnaka beaches 1&2, Agar beach, Chikhale beach. People from Mumbai & Surat visit the town in large numbers during weekends and holidays, away from the rush and heat of the cities to enjoys its cool, calm, peaceful climate. There are lots of hotels around the beach area like Hotel Pearline, Hotel Sea Crest & Crazy Crab, Hotel Beach Classic, Hotel Sea Shell, Visawa Dhaba, Hotel Pummys Kosbad, Hotel Hill-Zill Bordi, which are famous with the tourists. Chicken bhujing (traditionally grilled chicken) is Dahanu's famous and easily available in roadside stalls in Agar village.

Other places to visit nearby are:

1. Musalya Dongar, Mahalaxmi, NH8 (Mahalaxmi Gadh)
2. Bhim Bandh, Waghadi, Surya River
3. Gambhir Gadh, Kajal barichi Khind
4. Dhamani Dam, Dhamani
5. Kavdas Dam, Suryanagar
6. Kurza Dam, Kurza
7. Sakhara Dam, Sakhara
8. Sisana Killa, Sisana NH8
9. Kaneri Dongar, Ashta
10. Asheri gadh, Mendhavan
11. Surya River, Kasa
12. Jain temple,Gopipura
13. Laxmi Narayan Temple in Dahanu Gaon. This temple is from Peshwa Era. It belongs to the Karandikar family. It is open to all.

Agriculture

Dahanu is well known for its famous delicious chikoos, capsicum and coconuts, and tadee a juice of palm tree. It is also known for its loving nature environment which has now become a huge tourist places in Mumbai.

Industries

The BSES (Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply) Power Plant was renamed as Reliance Energy Power Plant in the year 2005. Dahanu is a coastal region, the staple food of the people living there is rice and fish. Dahanu Road railway station is the last main station within boundary of Maharashtra state en route Mumbai Vadodara Western Railway line. Many express trains halt at this station. Weather here is very pleasant in the winters. Dahanu is also famous for the tribal people especially Warli tribe and other tribes. Dahanu and surrounding area is designated by the government of India as an ecologically fragile zone, to protect the greenery from industrial pollution. Dahanu Road also has many balloon factories in the Masoli area. Industrial development received a setback from new ecological regulations hence tourism, animal husbandry, fishing, small scale units and farming are the only industries where expansion can take place.

Dahanu Thermal Power Station

Dahanu Thermal Power Station (DTPS) is Reliance Energy Ltd.’s single largest power generating facility. It is a 500 MW (2 X 250 MW) coal-based thermal power station.

The power plant was commissioned in 1995. DTPS is the first power utility to get both ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 certificate in India.

Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) are installed to collect fly ash and minimize emissions to the atmosphere.

DTPS has installed a 275.34 m stack to ensure better dispersion of particulate matter. The stack has a diameter of 31.5 m at the bottom and a diameter of 16 m at the top, with two separate flues of 5.25 m diameter at the bottom and 4.75 m diameter at the top for each unit. This is the highest stack in Asia

Any expansion of the DTPS, is specifically not allowed as per: 1. Clearance conditions, 7 July 1988 by the Environment Dept. Government of Maharashtra and later on 29 March 1989 by Central Government MOEF 2. The Dahanu Notification dated 20 June 1991 3. The Supreme Court Order of 1996 which upheld the Dahanu Notification and issued further directives to ensure implementation of the same.

Nearby Industrial Area and other power stations

Tarapur Industrial Estate and Tarapur Atomic Power Station are located close by. The huge industrial area at Tarapur accommodates various specialty chemical, bulk drugs, steel and alloy and textile manufacturing companies.

Temples

Some of the famous temples :Mahalakshmi Temple, Mata Mahalaxmi & Mahalaxmi Gadh, Santoshi Temple-Ashagadh, Sai Baba Temple- Narpad, Shri Kevda Devi Mandir -Agar Road, Jagrut Hanuman Mandir - Agar & Waghadi, Mata Saptashrungi Mandir Nikane, Shri Gajanan Maharaj Mandir - Parnaka. Shree Ram mandir-Ramwadi,Dahanu Road (East).

The old Jain temple in Dahanu Gaon (Fort Area) is around 105 years old and is now included in Jain Tirth (Teerths). It is a Chandraprabhu Swami's temple and also has idols of Dadaguru Dev. A new jain temple(Dherasar) is being built on Irani road in Masoli.

Laxmi Narayan Temple is in Dahanu Gaon. This temple is from Peshwa Era. It belongs to the Karandikar family. It is open to all. The temple has beautiful wooden carved Pillars on which the "Sabha Mandap" stands.

Vishveshwar Temple is in Dahanu Gaon and a beautiful Ganesh Temple near Dahanu Fort.

The newly constructed temple at Kosbad Hill is an attraction for people from Mumbai and Surat as there are many visitors on Sundays. Tour organisers arrange a single day picnic from Mumbai and they come in numbers every weekends. In fact another new Jain Temple has been built (about 5 years ago) located at Irani Road opposite IDBI Bank. The Jain Temple at Kosbad was probably built about 10 to 15 years ago. (Information dated 7/4/13.)

Geography

Dahanu is located at 19.97°N 72.73°E / 19.97; 72.73. It has an average elevation of 9.89 metres. To the west of the town is the beautiful coast of the Arabian sea while the east is lined with the magnificent Sahyadri ranges. This unique combination has made Dahanu a major tourist attraction. Sprawling Chickoo wadis (farms), rose gardens, salt pans are among the other things that dot the landscape.

The Dahanu beach is an extensive 15 km stretch lined by coconut and Saru (casuarina equisetifolia) trees. This is mostly crowded on the weekend when people from the metropolitan city of Mumbai come to visit as it is a short commute. The other days life is very laid back and the beach does not see much tourist crowd except inhabitants of Dahanu. There are horse and weekend fairs on the beach.

Residential

Dahanu is a good residential location. Very good schools and colleges are located here. Among them Shirin Dinyar Irani Learners Academy is well Known for Sport and innovative activities.St Mary's High school is the popular school with about 4000 students studying from nursery to class X .

Transportation

State transport buses (Maharashtra State Transport Corporation) and Auto rickshaws are the general mode of transport in and around the town. The National Highway NH8 runs through the taluka near Charoti, around 25 km east of the Dahanu town. Dahanu has its own railway station, Dahanu Road. It lies on the Western line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. It is the northern limit (terminal station) of the Suburban local train network, although the track continues north to Gholvad and beyond.Regular local trains & Memu are available for Churchgate, Dadar, Borivali & Virar, & also Panvel. There are also direct express trains from Dahanu which connects it with cities like Mumbai, Surat, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, Trivandrum, Bhuj, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jamnagar, Delhi, Amritsar, Firozpur, Porbunder.

State-run Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s busiest container gateway near Mumbai, is planning to build a satellite port at Vadhavan in Palghar district, Dahanu in Maharashtra for at least Rs.10,000 crore.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Dahanu has a population of 1,27,000. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Dahanu has an average literacy rate of 71%: male literacy is 77% and, female literacy is 64%. In Dahanu, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Population of Dahanu Taluka

Adivasis(Warlis, Dubla,Dhodi), Bhandari, Agri(Mangela) and Bari community people dominate the population of the town with significant amount of Parsis and Iranis;Jains and Gujaratis.This makes Dahanu a rich town by itself compared to neighboring taluka of Palghar. In spite of a tradition of resistance, the indigenous Warlis have today become poor marginal farmers or migrant labourers barely surviving from year to year. While their narratives and consciousness come from a history of police brutality, exploitation by landlords, moneylenders and liquor contractors and from their continuous struggle for land rights and access to the forests, they are today forced into practicing settled subsistence agriculture. Moreover, categorized as backward and primitive, their culture, heritage and ecological understanding has come under attack. They now live on the margins of industrial and urban areas on the fringes of their slowly eroding forest lands.

Media

"DAHANU TIMES" is the newspaper which is published in Marathi language and is a Daily."RAJTANTRA" IS the second newspaper is also published in Marathi language and is a daily

Art and culture

There are mostly Warli/Varli, Koli Malhar, Kokani, Kathodi and other tribes lives in Dahanu. The people in Dahanu taluka are mostly tribals, mostly inhabiting rural areas and having daily commute to urban areas for work. Tribal culture is dominant in the talk and customs. The tribal art most predominantly shows village life and the day-to-day functions. The original people of this land are tribals. World-famous tribal art "Warli art" originated here from Warli tribe. Many foreign students have resided in the tribal settlements for learning Warli art. Similarly Tarpa dance (Adivasi Nrutya) and Dhole dance are famous all over the world.

Festivals

1. Koli Bhaji
2. Nag Panchami
3. Gauri Ganapati
4. Sakar Chuvat
5. Nava Bhat Khane
6. Sarvapitari Avas or Omasya
7. Dival Baras or Bagh Baras
8. Dasara
9. Divali, Berya
10. Saticha Deva
11. Sakrat
12. Holi or Simga
13. Mahi Bij
14. Gudi Padwa
15. Akhati
16. Boida
17. Khalyacha Deva
18. Shri Ram navami
19. Gauri
20. Paryushana [jain festival]
21. Shree Krishna Janmashtami [ Gopalkala ]
22. Ganesh Utsav
23. Navratri Utsav