Bhiwandi

Bhiwandi is a commercial city in Thane district of Western Maharashtra. Bhiwandi Nizampur lies in the Konkan coastal lowland with hills and water streams. Apart from its natural ethnicity Bhiwandi is well known as a major trade Centre. This city is the major link between Mumbai and the rest of India through Mumbai- Agra highway. Bhiwandi is duly been named as the Manchester of India.

In the early Twentieth century, Bhiwandi was a small town, inhabited mainly by Maharashtrians. Main occupation of people during that time was agriculture, fishing and handloom. With the introduction of electricity, the hand looms were replaced by power looms. It became a hub of the textile industry in the 1930s.

In the early 16 century, Bhiwandi used to have a port on the Kamwadi River and it was known as Bunder Mohalla. Waswoods & Spices were traded the most from the port. The city has witnessed frequent travelling by the merchants ever since. At that time a merchant was called as ‘Saudagar’, and the area used to be referred as Saudagar Mohalla. The home of labourers working for the shipping industry is known as Sutar Wada and Hamal Wada. During the reign of the Moghul Empire the city of Bhiwandi was known by the name of ‘Islamabad’. There is a mosque by the name of Islamabad Masjid & Eidgah at Eidgah road. It is the textile industry which changed the face of Bhiwandi in many ways and people from all over India started settling down there either for the purpose of business or jobs.

With the decline of textile industry in Mumbai, Bhiwandi became an industrial attraction due to the convenience for transport and 24 hr power service. The demand of power loom was so huge that workers from UP and Bihar began settling there. The power loom of Bhiwandi is the second largest Power loom after the one located in Surat. Bhiwandi produces and transports most of the Power loom for textile industry all over India. Bhiwandi has got export quality powerlooms and exports power too.

The stooping increase in population in Bhiwandi is directly or indirectly related to the Power loom industry. Bhiwandi is the most highly paid octroi in the entire Asia. The place is also known for its large godowns which are considered as Asia's biggest godowns.[3] All the major multinational companies in India have got their godowns in Bhiwandi.[3]

Bhiwandi has got many stories to tell about its existence and power. Right from the age of Mughals this place has been a prominent place for trade. The only difference between yesterday and today is that the items for trade are different. Bhiwandi is the major link to Mumbai with the other parts of Maharashtra. This unique factor has lured the industrialists to set their units in Bhiwandi. History of Bhiwandi stands atall in the India's industrial growth.

Bhiwandi was initially inhabited by the Kolis and Konkanis who were fishermen and used to live near the Konkan sea coast. Bhiwandi was once a trading town as it had its own port (Bandargah) in Bunder Mohalla. The Mughals built their Eidgah in Bhiwandi which is today located at Eidgah Road.

The city of Kolis was known by the name Kolwan. The tribal people of the region of Konkan were called Kolis and they are traditional fishermen. Some of the traditional wooden fishing boats can be seen even today in the Bhiwandi area. The Kolis have their own customs and speak a different dialect of Marathi.[4]

Bhiwandi city's total population was about half a million in 2001. The bulk of the population forms the workforce for a number of textile and other industries. The first textile loom was set up by Khan Saheb Samad Seth in 1927. He told the local people to sell gold and purchase iron. His slogan was "sona becho aur lokhand kharido", which means invest your money in power looms by selling the golds you have. Today the city of Bhiwandi has about half a million power looms, though handlooms are few in number. For this reason, Bhiwandi is known as 'Manchester of India'.

The city of Bhiwandi, known for its textile industry, has the largest number of power looms and handlooms in the country.[5][6][7] A major portion of the population is employed by the power loom sector.[8]

Bhiwandi has been developing as an industrial hub for the textile industry in the past, and all industries and logistics sectors in recent times. Bhiwandi is growing as a transport and logistics hub. It has now become a warehouses city, With many warehouses in nearby villages. Many e-commerce companies are established here like Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Snapdeal and FedEx. it's becoming one of the biggest transportation hub in Maharashtra. Bhiwandi is the next development region for MMRDA, which has developed other regions such as Bandra - Kurla Complex, Mumbai Metro, Monorail Project and Eastern Freeway.[9]

All Indian Festivals are celebrated. There are some festivals grantly celebrated such as Eid, Bakri Eid, Eid-e-Milad, Ganesh Chaturthi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Dahihandi, Ambedkar Jayanti, Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, Bhiwandi Agri Mahostav, Aaja Nachle Dance Competition Kombadpada, Telugu Padmashali Samaj Sevak Utsavam, Hanuman Jayanti, Varaladevi Jatra, Markandeya Jayanti, Gudi Padwa, New Year, Navratri, Ramadan, Maharashtra Day, Ganesh Jayanti, etc.

Varaladevi temple in Bhiwandi is located near Kamthghar. Dindighar Lord Shiva oldest temple in Bhiwandi. Saibaba Mandir is also the oldest temple in Bhiwandi, it is located at near Bhiwandi-Kalyan bypass road. Balaji temple and Ram Mandir in Padmanagar, Bhiwandi. Latest and famous temple Mankoli Saibaba constructed by Lodha Group, Rani Sati Mandir Gokul Nagar, Lord Shiva temple beside challenge ground, kombadpada, Ganapati Mandir, Mandai, Markandeya Mandir, Kasaar Alli, Vitthal mandir, Wani ali.

Nearest temples from Bhiwandi is Vajreshwari temple, Durgadi Temple Kalyan, Manas mandir, Ashapur Mandir, Mata Di temple, Birla Temple Kalyan, Trungareshwar mandir near Vasai, Jeevadani Mandir Virar, Nitayananda Swami Temple Ganesh Puri, Siddhivinayak Mandir Titwala, Ayyapa Swami temple near Varaladevi, Balaji temple near padmanagar etc.

In Bhiwandi Dhabas are most famous for food. The Dhabas are located at Nashik highway. This Dhabas serves vegetarian and non vegetarian food.

Places to visit in Bhiwandi are Sangrila Water Park, Nana Nani park near Adharsh Park, Great escape water park near Vajreshwari, orphanage near Vasai.

There are so many sports are playing like Cricket, Kabaddi, etc. But mostly plays cricket. MAYOR Cup was most famous trophy till 2015 among Bhiwandi people. It was organised by Ex- Mayor Vilas R Patil & Challenge Sports Club. Bali Trophy has organised by Altaf Imamuddin Shaikh(Bali) and Pioneer Sports Club at Parshuram Taware Stadium normally known as Dhobi Talav Stadium which is most famous among Bhiwandi people and also Tennis cricket fans. It is started in 2016 where Maratha Punjab won final, thereafter B. Indian & Dhanesh XI Kukse also won final of it. Nowadays Bali Trophy is the Mini IPL for Bhiwandi people. Player dream to play good cricket here, they practice very hard to give their best while playing here. Amadhar Chaska ( MLA Trophy) it was organised by ex-MLA of east Bhiwandi & Mahindra Sports at R.K Stadium at Bhadwad. like Bali Trophy and Aamdar Trophy, Mahapoli Trophy it is to Organised every year by Wakki Sports Mahapoli at Mahapoli ground in Mahapoli.

And also many tournaments like Khasdar Chashak, Balaji Chashak 2020, CM Chashak 2020, M Guard Trophy 2019, CPL Trophy 2017,MIM Trophy 2020, etc. tournament organised by different club, groups or teams each year.

Approximately there are hundreds of teams including city & gramin, and more than 30 to 40 tournaments has been organize each year at City level.

Challenge Stadium is playing ground for outdoor games and it is located at Kombadpada, Gokul Nagar, Bhiwandi. Dhobi Talao Stadium is also playing ground for outdoor games and it is located at Parshuram Taware Sports Complex, Narpoli, Bhiwandi. R.K. Stadium is a small ground located at Bhadwad, pipeline, near Octroi Naka, Kalyan Road, Bhiwandi.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation area is around 1 million.[2]

• B.N.N. College

10. https://www.facebook.com/bhiwandinewsonline24x7/