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Prabhadevi is a central district neighbourhood of Mumbai city, situated between Dadar to the north and Worli to the south. The oldest part of this locality houses a temple of Prabhavatidevi dedicated to Prabhadevi from which the region takes its name. A major landmark is the Siddhivinayak Temple (Marathi:श्री सिद्धिविनायक गणपती मंदिर) dedicated to Lord Ganesha which attracts hundreds of devotees everyday and is one of the richest temple trusts in India.
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Neighbourhood
Prabhadevi has traditionally been a middle class residential neighbourhood housing migrant mill workers from all over Maharashtra. However with rising real estate prices, and due to its location (Prabhadevi lies in the geographical centre of Mumbai and is well connected by several BEST bus routes and it can be reached by using either Dadar (Central Railway/Western Railway line), Elphinstone Road (Western Railway line) or Lower Parel (Central Railway line) stations) this area has become a strategic business/commercial hub and numerous local and multinational business houses and corporations have setup their offices here (ICICI, Future Group, Crompton Greaves, Deloitte etc.). This area also has its own Sea-face which extends right from Dadar/Shivaji Park beach (towards the North) till Worli Seaface (towards the South). Mumbai's Regional Passport Office and the Headquarters of MTNL, Mumbai (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.) too are located in Prabhadevi.
Prabhadevi Temple
The temple situated at the crossroads of Veer Savarkar Marg and Appsaheb Marathe Road was built in 1715 but the main idol of Shakambhari devi, dates to the 12th century. Shakambaridevi was the patron goddess of the Yadav king, Raja Bimba of Gujarat who ruled this area. According to the temple priest, when the Mughals invaded the area, the idols were shifted to safer location to escape vandalism. They first found refuge in Mahim Creek and then mysteriously in a well, located near the temple site. Shakambhari in the form of Prabhavatidevi appeared in a dream to Shyam Nayak (a Pathare Prabhu). The temple was built under his supervision. It has a wide protico with wooden beams and tiled walls.[1]
Kalika and Chandika, two manifestations of Shakti are on the either side of the main idol of Shakambaridevi. Other deities namely Laxmi Narayan and Shiva are also present. Today, The temple is looked after by the Gajanan Kirtikar trust, run by the descendants of Shayam Nayak. Every year in the Pausha (January) month of the Hindu calendar, a ten day "Jatra" (Mela) is held, beginning on the full moon day, to celebrate the Prabhavatidevi. This festival is quite popular with hundreds of people attending it every year.
During Colonial Times
Evidence of its importance in earlier times is a milestone located opposite the temple. "VIII MILES FROM THE TOWN HALL" carved on it. This monolithic structure hails back to British Colonial India when important landmarks in the city (Prabhadevi Temple in this case) had their distance from the city centre i.e. Town Hall (which is better known as Asiatic Library today) inscribed on it.
This area was a major part of Girangaon which had several mills. Most of the mills still stand today but with the advent of the power loom are no longer profitable and hence are closed down.[2]
In Recent Years
Recent years have seen a surge in property prices in Prabhadevi which has heralded a construction boom catering to high-end residential apartments and skyscrapers[3] in this traditionally middle class haven. Older residential areas co-exist with shimmering and towering skyscrapers and continue to lend an old-world charm to this area located along the sea-front which makes Prabhadevi a very desirable and liveable locality. Twin Towers, Beach Tower, Raheja Empress, Tanna Residency, Tata Peregrine, Chaitanya Towers are some of the well known apartments in Prabhadevi housing many affluent residents of Mumbai. Some of the more recent ultra luxurious and ultra expensive developments in Prabhadevi include Sheth Beaumonde Towers (3 Towers, 33 storeys each), Sumer Trinity Towers, Lodha Grandeur and Raheja Legend among several other upcoming skycrapers which now define the skyline of this prominent area in South Central Mumbai.
References
- ^ http://www.pathareprabhu.org/temples/prabhadevi.htm
- ^ http://www.flickr.com/photos/humayunnapeerzaada/515746142/ Photo of an abandoned mill in Girangoan.
- ^ http://www.flickr.com/photos/humayunnapeerzaada/2371353879/ Photo of the skyline of Prabhadevi.
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