Childhood picnics at Gorai Beach, Mumbai

 

We lived near the sea when I was a child and so we had a picnic at the beach once or twice a year. This 'we' could be family , friends, building friends or a mix of all these groups. The picnic used to be a great adventure back then. We would have to discuss it as a group and plan the day. It was nearly always planned on a Sunday because everyone worked or studied the rest of the week. If we had a public holiday on another weekday, sometimes, this was preferred as the beach would be less crowded than on the weekend. As I was the youngest at home and also in the groups that my siblings hung around in, I was usually the last one to know about any plan. I, of course, was always game for a fun day out at the beach and in the water. 

A day at the Gorai Beach meant waking up much earlier than usual and carrying a bag of homemade food and bottles of water with us. Back then I don't remember anyone buying snacks or bottles of water as and when the need arises, very different from the world of today. We took a bus to the local railway station (Borivli) where we would queue up for another that would take us to the Gorai creek. We needed to take a ferry to cross to the other side. Once on the other side, there were two options of transport to the beach. An auto-rickshaw that many of us could pile into or a tonga-ride ( a horse-driven carriage) to the beach front. When we were larger numbers, it was possible to afford these modes of transport as there were several people who could pay or chip in. However, sometimes either because we couldn't afford the extra expense or all the vehicles were already rented out, due to large crowds, we were forced to walk from the creek to the beach. This used to be a long walk. And as a child of course I dreaded it. However, I remember some deep talks that took place while I tagged along behind the older kids or songs being sung to make us forget the distance. I still remember the long road and our shadows preceding us towards the beach. Luckily, since we started early from home, usually we weren't suffering under a strong sun. 

Once we reached the beach, we either hired a beach side shack for a day or we rented a small room or two in a building with some play area around it. As soon as we reached the beach, the idea was to play all the games that we played in our building compound on the beach. We loved playing the games that needed a lot of running space like catch-catch and the chain (Saakli). We usually didn't carry any props or toys to the beach. We played with each other and we didn't really miss anything. Some of us didn't own too many toys anyway and I think the kids who were well-to-do didn't want to bring their cricket bats and balls or badminton rackets to the beach and risk getting them spoilt or stolen. This kept us all at the same level. After playing on the sand for a bit, we always ran into the water. This was after all what we had come to the beach for. We spent several hours as far as I remember in the morning and after lunch time in the water. Again, splashing against the rolling waves, sitting on the sand with one's feet in the water, marveling at the small pockets of air forming in the sand and the water entering these gaps and gush out was pure fun. I remember the wet sand and water running through my fingers.

I remember the skirts of surf formed by the waves that crashed hard or gently settled on the beach. The sea in Mumbai was always welcoming and its gentle slope allows for everyone to be able to walk into it to the level that each of them are comfortable. One must not forget that nearly none of us knew how to swim. Those who did weren't sticking around us young kids anyway. The warm water caressed our bodies and the waves constantly hit, pushed and pulled us. The challenge was to dip one's head into the water. The salt was all over our lips and I remember tasting it instinctively. Of course getting out of this water was very hard and most of us kids weren't happy as it started becoming 4pm as we knew it would soon be time to shut shop.

While we walked back to our shack with our wet clothes sticking to our bodies, yet not cold at all, we knew that the Sun was soon going to start its descent. Mumbai lies on the west coast and so we all knew we had maybe time for one last tea after freshening up. With bodies exhausted from the strength of nature, the heat of the sun and the force of the waves in the Arabian Sea, we reluctantly made our way back. The expanding beach (due to the low tide) and the backdrop of the coconut trees that decorate the entire coast line and the golden tint on the waters which would soon light up the sky was a treat for the eyes. Sadly, as a child I don't remember appreciating that beauty as much as I remember thinking how I couldn't afford any of the little treats that the vendors at the exit of the beach were selling. 

I would always try to arm-twist my sister or brother for a Gola with Kala Khatta flavour (a crushed ice popsicle with a black current sort of flavour) or a small sip from a shared bottle of soft drink. But usually the group was in a hurry to get to the auto-rickshaw stand or walk back to the creek to avoid having to get back home after it was dark. Everyone had something to do on a Sunday night, get ready for school the next day or go attend the late evening mass at the local church. Me too, I had a lot left to do. Get back home, take a shower, eat something and go and find some of my friends who hadn't joined us for the picnic and bore them to death talking about my great day!

You can here me read out this story on Apple podcast or Spotify in 'Lekha writes, then reads' or here https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Bby2LnRID12ALbMYTKCY6?si=fRdXm17AQSS4DRRb6Fqlww

Like what you read? Read the follow up here 

The Chronicles of the youngest child - Back from the picnic at the Beach - the aftermath

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Summer vacations

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A Turn of Events

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