Home Away from Home: The Story of Maharashtra Mandal, Nairobi

You are never too far from your culture — Maharashtra Mandal keeps heritage and community spirit alive in Nairobi

The Maharashtra Mandal, Nairobi (MMN), is more than just a social organisation. Over the decades, it has become a cultural anchor for the Marathi diaspora in Kenya — fostering traditions, organising festivals, and creating bonds that feel like family. This article traces the Mandal’s beginnings, its journey through the decades, and its continuing role in preserving Marathi identity in Africa.

Origins

In East Africa, the migration of Marathi people began around the year 1898. Compared to other Indian immigrant communities, Marathi families were smaller. However, their significant and qualitative contributions in many fields benefitted the local community as well.

Many Maharashtrians travelled to Kenya to work on the railways. By the 1940s, there were about 8–10 Marathi families in Nairobi. They would casually meet at each other’s homes, but a strong desire to promote and preserve Marathi traditions and culture led some families to come together and establish Maharashtra Mandal, Nairobi (MMN). The Mandal was formally founded on 1st September 1945 and soon after was officially registered. The first Chairperson of the Committee was Mrs Indirabai Kolhatkar, while K.A. Kolhatkar was the first Trustee of the Mandal.

The idea of having a permanent meeting place was put forward during these gatherings and committee meetings. This was realised in 1949. The primary objective of the Mandal was to establish and maintain contact, as well as to promote sports, social events, drama, and the propagation of Marathi culture.

The Mandal’s building was officially inaugurated on 20th October 1950, on the occasion of Dussehra, by Appasaheb Pant, who was then the Commissioner for India in East and Central Africa. Pant, a highly respected figure among Kenyans, played an important role in bringing together Marathi families and realising the building project.

What began in the 19th century with just a handful of Maharashtrians, within only 12 years, achieved a remarkable feat — constructing their own space in a foreign land. This place is not only one of the oldest but also the first property owned by a Marathi community outside India. It stands as a testimony to the foresight, spirit, and sacrifices of pioneering families.

The original building, comprising a modest-sized hall (expanded in 1995 and now known as the dining hall) and residential flats, remains a living testimony to the sacrifices made by a few Marathi families. Over time, a badminton hall, another hall, and two apartments were added, further expanding the Mandal premises.

Cultural and Social Activities

The Mandal gradually began organising cultural and religious programmes such as Chaitra Haldi-Kunku, Gudi Padwa, Holi, Maharashtra Day, Ashadhi Ekadashi with a small temple procession (Dindi), Gokulashtami with Dahi Handi, Raksha Bandhan, Satyanarayan Pooja (in the month of Shravan), Kojagiri Purnima, Guru Purnima, Navratri festival, Dussehra, and Diwali.

Additionally, picnics, competitions, projects, handicraft and cookery contests, painting and drawing competitions, musical evenings, and many other programmes started being held.

Over the years, many distinguished personalities from India visited the Mandal, including S.L. Kirloskar, P.L. Deshpande, C. Ramchandra, Smita Patil, Swaroop Sampat, C.B. Garware, M.R. Pai, Kishori Amonkar, V.L. Bhave, Dr Chandrakant Kanhere, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Atmaram & Asha Bhende, Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Sanjay Manjrekar and several other cricketers; Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sudhir Joshi, Sudhir Gadgil, Shirish Kanekar, Shridhar Phadke, Suresh Prabhu, Pandurang Shastri Athawale, and many more.

For many years, the Ganesh Festival at Maharashtra Mandal has been its prime attraction. With spectacular performances, both young and old got opportunities to showcase their talents. The Mandal created a strong platform for social interaction among its members and became like a family for newly arriving Marathi families in Nairobi.

The Mandal has played a vital role in preserving Marathi lifestyle and traditions — family values, traditional cuisine, unique customs, culture, and language — thus helping families settle more easily in a foreign environment and preventing social, cultural, and emotional voids.

Present Day

This year, the Mandal created magnificent decorations based on the Peshwai theme. Like every year, many excellent programmes are being presented, including “Raja Sinh” (a children’s play loved by all), “Hasya Jatra” (a comedy performance full of fun), and “Shivkalyan Raja” (a spectacular play bringing alive the golden history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj).

Such is Maharashtra Mandal Nairobi—a true embodiment of the English saying, “Home is where the heart is.”

For decades, the Mandal has preserved Marathi identity, strengthened ties with the mother tongue and motherland, and passed on this heritage to future generations born in Nairobi. By nurturing culture without forgetting roots, it carries forward the spirit of ‘Marathi Paaul Padte Pudhe’. Just as the Peshwas took the Maratha flag beyond boundaries, Maharashtra Mandal has planted Marathi culture firmly on African soil.

(The writer is the children’s’ secretary of Maharashtra Mandal, Nairobi. Views personal).