Vasai

Vasai (Marathi: वसई), historically known as Bassein or Baçaim is a historical village to the North of the city of Mumbai in the Maharashtra state of India. Now, it is a part of the Vasai-Virar city, and is governed by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation.

History

Vasai Fort Entrance

References in ancient texts and general charactristics

Vasai, which is not same as Sopara or Shurparak but rather a superset of it, has five rivers. Two of them, namely Vairarini in the North and Ulhas in the South, mark Shurparak’s limits. These rivers form the Vaitarna Creek and the Ulhas or Vasai Creek respectively. Three small rivers named “Pandu Nadi”, “Preta Nadi” and “Gaarudi Nadi” run off the Tungar Hills and meet the sea through the land of Shurparak, forming the Bolinj Creek, Sopara Creek and Vagholi Creek. All of these creeks are now drying off.

Bajipur, the original name of Vasai as it appears in Padma Purana, which was later restored during the rule of the Peshwas (hence Bajipur is often erroneously thought to have been named after Bajirao Peshwa). The Harivansha Purana mentions “Shurparak” to be a city 500 bows wide and 500 arrows long. According to Buddhist monks, in one of his former births, Gautama Buddha was Bodhisat Supparak, that is Bodhisattva of Shurparaka (Sopara). The Yadava Kosha also mentions “Shurparaka” as one of the chief places in Aparanta.

The eighth edict of Ashoka shows that Shurparaka was the capital of Aparanta. The name “Vasai” appears on stone inscriptions in the Kanheri Cave writings and as "Vasya" in the Karli Cave inscriptions. Vasai is mentioned as “Bussy” in Abu Fazal's Ain-I-Akbari. It is called “Baxay” in Barbosa. Sopara had maritime links which has been attested even by Masudi, Ibn Haukal and Al Beruni between the 9th and the 11th century. Finally, after Indian Independence, it was renamed as Vasai.

Map of Bassein (c. 1539)

Vasai was the seat of the various political powers namely Guhashayas, Mauryas, Sungas, Satavahanas, Guptas, Shilahaaras, Yadavas, Mughal, Portuguese, Marathas, British, Union of India (Since 1947 called Free India). Vasai boomed as a seat of knowledge where students and scholars from as far as Europe came to learn and also propagate their philosophy. It was trade center for spices, grains, sugar, and the ship building industry. The salubrious climate and the burgeoning profits saw many wealthy merchants during the Buddhist rule and fidalgos under the Portuguese rule ; blue blooded Portuguese nobles resided here in lavish villas. It later became the town where the Portuguese aristocracy sent their illegitimate sons rather than exhibit them. The floor of St Francis Church is paved with the graves of the Portuguese nobility along with their royal insignia.

Vasai has always been a major contributor of scholars and clergy for various religions - ranging from the Vedic Religion who work in potato farms, Jain-Buddhist sects and priests to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay. This place is a place known for the one of the four famous sarovars, the Vedic Nirmal Sarovar . Called Mahasmashan during the times of Lord Parashurama, it was one of the 84 Gacchas of the Jains. It was the centre of learning for the Maitreya Buddhist sect. It is a sacred place with three tombs each of the 5th, 7th and 38th Jagadguru Shankaracharyas - namely Vidyaranya Swami, Padmanabha Tirtha Swami, and Narayan Upendra Swami. The diocese has also contributed India's First Catholic Saint, St. Gonsalo Garcia.

Chronicle of events since 1414

1414–1507 – There was a political crisis in the reign of the Shurparak and Mahikavati, with clashes between Somavanshis, who now called themselves Paanch Kalshis and Seshavanshis. Thus Shurparak became very weak politically, and the ruler had effective power only over a small area. A vacuum of power was created on the west coast of India, of which Muslims prepared themselves to take advantage as did emerging European empires - first, the Portuguese Empire - who sent off their voyagers to discover the possibility of rule in India.

Sultans of Gujarat continuously raided Vasai, under the leadership of Mahmud Begada. Ultimately, in 1513, Mirat-I-Ahmadi mentions the hold of Mahmud Begada over Vasai. Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, a foe of Humayun, had complete hold over Vasai after 1517. Between 1513–1530 he embarked on a heavy destruction of Hindu Stone Temples, as of Burud Raja’s Palace and of the stone lined "Tirtha Sthalas", the lakes and the reservoirs. It was filled with the men of Bahadur, who included Moors (Muslims of mixed Arab and Berber descent).

Portuguese pirates from Goa, as well as local chieftains, raided Vasai after the rule of the Sultans started weakening due to their fighting against the Mughals. Vasai was burnt twice by the Portuguese. Now the town was called Baxay. These pirates started merchandise exchange and started great movement of shipping from Malabar laden with arecas, cocoa and spices, which were later, sent along the Red Sea.

1526 – Portuguese establish the first factory.

1529 – Heitor da Silveira attacks Ali Shah - burns and plunders Vasai. Mosques, which had been built on the site of destroyed Hindu temples, were destroyed in turn, and new Churches built on the site. Conversions to Christianity start under guidance of the Franciscan missionary Fr. António de Porto.

1532 – Malik Tokan, Governor of Diu for Bahadur Shah, re-fortifies Vasai. Establishes 15,000 Cavalry and Infantry.

1533 – The Portuguese General Nuno da Cunha, along with Diogo de Silveira and Manuel de Machado, bring 150 ships – 4000 men (half Europeans, Half Goan and attack Vasai. Bahadur Shah cedes Vasai. Conversion to Christianity restart, again under guidance of the Franciscan Fr. António de Porto. Conversions are helped along by the orthodoxy of local Hindus: António de Porto throws bread into the well, and those who drink water from that well are automatically ostracized from the Hindu community by Shamedi Brahmins; the Brahmins do not hesitate to confiscate the lands and belongings of those converted to Christianity or considered to be such . Also, the rule of King of Portugal João III starts, at whose request the Inquisition formally started in Portugal but not in India.

1534 - The first Treaty of Bassein signed by Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat and Portugal on December 23 while on board the galleon São Mateus. Based on the terms of the agreement, the Portuguese Empire's rule was recognized in the city of Bassein, as well as its territories, islands, and seas. The Mumbai Islands under Portuguese control include Colaba, Old Woman's Island, Mumbai, Mazagaon, Worli, Matunga, and Mahim. Salsette, Daman and Diu, Thane, Kalyan, and Chaul were other territories controlled and settled by the Portuguese.

1536 – António Galvano opposes a Muslim attack on Vasai, lays foundation cornerstone for the reconstruction of Bacaim Fort.

1537 – António Galvano furiously pulls down certain Muslim Mosques which were built on the foundation of Hindu temples and in their place builds the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The Portuguese Empire seems to favour the Franciscans. Though this continued till 1634, due to the changes in the Papal favor shown to the newly-created Jesuits (famously called "Troops of the Pope"), the Portuguese Empire has to allow them, too, in Bassein.

1542–1580 – Clergymen under guidance of the Fathers of the Jesuit College start conversions of natives into Christianity by preaching. The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier of Spain, known for his zeal, arrives at Vasai in 1544, and again in 1548, to train the priests in "Evangelisation of the True Faith". Francis Xavier is famous for his quotation, "Every time a new convert smashes his idol and caste, my joy knew no bounds". (See Francis Xavier#Goa and India). Soon the Portuguese stripped the lake banks, pulled down around 200 Temples, and used the stones in building Portuguese Churches, forts and houses, religious and state buildings whose ruins still remain in Bassein.

1583 – Bacaim becomes a full fledged trade center, dealing with rice, corn and timber for ship building. Construction of the St. Joseph Cathedral is completed as well as of five Convents, thirteen Churches, an orphanage and a hospital built in the city of Bacaim - which was never done during the Brahmin rule. Of these, the Dominican Church was built in the Fort under the invocation of São Gonçalo.

The Jesuits intensify their evangelization movement, to increase support against the invasion of other faiths and to increase the worldwide number of Catholics as against Protestants, who were at the time on rise in Europe. The methods adopted for conversions were numerous, as is clear from the “Monita Secreta” which reveals “Secret Instructions of the Jesuits”. The Jesuit way of carrying out missionary work was also later revealed when in 1738, British rulers at Bombay observed Jesuits to act in a hostile way, trying up tie up with peshwa a Brahmin ruler and shamedis and take control of whole of India..

1607 – Bacaim gets international acclaim as a center of shipbuilding, as well the place of which building stone was exported (for example, the stones used to construct all the Goan Churches).

1618-1634 – The Portuguese slow down the pace of conversions and start maintaining good relations with unconverted natives, so as to avoid conflicts and curses and thus increase their trade in rice, pulses, grains and coconuts. They allow 200 native Christians to stay within the walls of Bacaim along with the "better class" of Christians, while craftsmen and Hindu Brahmins were not allowed to live within the walls . The Jesuit college gets reformed with a fine library of commentaries, as well as works on history and morals, and increases hospitality and makes public places of entertainment unnecessary.

1674 - 600 Arab pirates from Muscat land at Bacaim and plunder all Churches outside of the walls, perpetrating cruel violence on native converts and non-converts alike. This marks the decay of Portuguese power. These Arabs settled in the now what is called as "Hathi Mohalla" and later spread to Papdy. Seeing this as the best opportunity, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recommends more Pandits to settle in Kalyan and forces the Portuguese to pay one forth of Bacaim's revenue.

1690 – Bacaim striken by pestilential plague, hitting the city of Bacaim along with Ahmedabad, Surat, Deccan and Bombay during seven to eight years. About two thirds of the city's inhabitants perished in this calamity. During this period Phadke of Aggassi renovated the Bhavani Shankara Mandir.

•1702 – The economic crisis in London adversely affects the trade from Vasai.

•1728 – A Portuguese officer sent from Goa observes that outposts, stockades, forts and garrison of Bacaim were in a poor state, with only robber-like soldiers unskilled, untaught and undrilled left in the fort. Portuguese take strong steps to restructure Bacaim’s administrative structure.

•1737–1738 – Marathas march towards Bacaim. They seize Arnala to drive out the Portugese. General Shankarji Pant informs Chimaji that that Arnala fort is a strategic fort for the naval forces that were on route to attack the Portuguese. Chimaji approved the assault on the fort. Shankarji Pant consulted and sought assistance of the local people to attack the Arnala fort; among them were Govindji Kasar and Gavraji Patil from Bolinj. Shankarji sent Gangaji Naik, Bajirao Belose and Rayajirao Surve to lead a battalion of 400 soldiers to lead the attack on Arnala fort. This attack was coordinated along with naval force commanded by Manaji Agre.

•On March 28, 1737 Maratha forces attacked the fort and surprised the Portuguese who were caught with their guard down. The Portuguese retreated and gave up the fort. The Maratha victory was commemorated with a plaque installed on the northern wall of the fort and is still visible today. Soon after the Maratha victory, Shankarji Pant began reconstruction of the fort. By January of 1738 three bastions were completed. The three bastions were named Bahirav, Bhavani and Bava. The construcation was completed by March 1738. Later Marathas occupied Versova and Dharavi.

•1739 – The capture of Bacaim begins on February 17, 1739, under able leadership of Bajirao’s brother Chimnaji Appa. Marathas exhibit besiegning force, skill, courage and perseverance and thus Portuguese lose their commander Silveira de Menezes. But the Portuguese garrison defends with highest courage and constancy, with hand grenades, musketry and mortars. Using their technically advanced weapons and artillery, the Portuguese inflicted high casaulties on the Marathas . Angre’s fleet plays brave role and on 16 May, 1739 Marathas inflicted a decisive defeat on the Portuguese.

•Portuguese offered to capitulate, but requested to allow marching out with honours, which the Marathas accepted, as a mark of humane protocol to the defeated army. Bacaim fell from Portuguese rule as a stately tree, never to rise again.

•1739 – Bacaim was renamed as Bajipur, after the Peshwa Bajirao. The new rulers sought to restore the Hindu culture and resettle the unconverted natives who had incurred discriminatory treatment under the Portuguese rule. The Peshwas brought a cadre of well trained, well learned Brahmans to purify the native converts willing to reconvert to their original Hindu fold.

•Chimnaji Appa restores the Nageshwar Mandir near Naga Kunda, and builds Hanuman Mandir over a Church which might have been built on a Mosque or Temple foundation in the Fort . The oldest Trivikram Mandir in the Fort is restored over the St. Anthony's Church, as is the Vamana Mandir of Aggasi, said to have been established by Shri Vamadev Tirtha Swami in 388 BC. The Bhavani Shankara Mandir of Aggasi is built over the Our Lady of Light Church, and the Papdy Kshetrapaleshwar Mandir was built over Our lady of Fatima Church .

•1767 – The Dutch seek to establish the factory at Bassein.

•1774 – Bassein was taken by the British but was again restored to the Marathas.

•1780 – During the First Anglo-Maratha War The British, led by Thomas Goddard, attack Vasai between 13 November and 10 December. A force of some twenty thousand Mahrattas attempted to relieve the siege, but were repulsed at Doogaur by a British force under James Hartley. Finally, the Mahratta garrison of Bassein surrendered.

•1782 – Under the Treaty of Salbai (March 1782) Bassein is restored to the Marathas.

•1802 – On 31 December, the Treaty of Bassein is concluded between the British East India Company and Baji Rao II, the Maratha peshwa of Pune (Poona) after the Battle of Poona. The treaty was a decisive step in the dissolution of the Maratha Confederacy.

•1817 – Bassein with the rest of North Konkan passed to British. The British soon start establishing modern Catholic Churches including Our Blessed Lady of Mercy at Merces, Our Blessed Lady of Remedies at Remedy, St. Michael the Archangel (Manickpur Church), Church of St. Thomas the Apostle at Sandor, Our Blessed Lady the Mother of God (Pali Church), Our Blessed Lady of Grace (Papdy Church)

•1830 – The British attempt to revive industry in Bassein by starting the sugar factory, but the scheme fails due to the death of Mr. Lingard the promoter.

•1838 – Bassein became nearly deserted with only a small population of fishermen, hunters, native converted and native unconverted ones. The population dropped down from 60,499 in the beginning of 1802 to 10,356 in 1881

•1852 – The ruined Portuguese Church of Nossa Senhora da Vida was converted by British to a sugar factory. But the factory was soon closed due to losses incurred because of poor administration.

•1856 – A road was built connecting Bassein to Manickpur (Umela).

•1860 – The land of the fort was leased for thirty years to Major Littlewood, whose son cultivated the fields in the fort for some time. Franciscan Church, by the Bastion of Sam Sebastian, was closed under the pressure of British and Mrs Littlewood.

•1864 – The Bassein Municipality is established. A new town beside Par Naka was established in the village of Malonde. The Bassein Municipality town limit include the Old Fort, Malonde, Dhauli, Sandor, Mulgaon and many gardens and fields between Bassein and Papdy.

•1869 – Mamlatdaar Office gets established. •1947 – Last year of British rule in Vasai. •1947 and onwards – Rule of Union Government of India from New Delhi, by the democratically elected representatives.

Communities based in Vasai

Vasai has 12 communities:

Kupari. Chambhar, Gawad Bhandari, Saraswats, Palshi, Kudal Deshkars, Panamali (Somavanshi Kshatriya Samaj), Bhandari (Seshavanshi Kshatriya Samaj), Samvedi Brahmans, Sandori Christians, Kupari, Aagri, Koli, Brahmins and East-Indians (Walkars).

Bhandari (hindu Bhandari and others)

hindu bhandari communiy is based in entire vasai tehsil and mainly in villages of Nirmal, Vasai, bhuigaon, Agashi. The surname include mhater, Patil, Raut, chorghe and churi. Other than hindu Bhandari Community there are other Bhandari communities residing to vasai as well.

Panamali (Somavanshi Kshatriya Samaj)

The words "Somavanshi Kshatriya" mean the second caste in the hierarchy of the Hindu Varna System. "Soma" means "Moon", thus these kshatriyas belong to the "Chandra Vansha" i.e. "Moon Dynasty of Warriors".

Somavanshi Kshitriya Alias. Vadval/Pachkalshi/Chaukalshi/Panmali/Paan Bhandari:

Sopara and Mahim are said to be the land of confluence of the Somavanshi Kshatriya clan, one from Utkala(ancient Orissa) and other from Gujarat and still other from Magadha and Mahishmati. The Somavanshis of Vasai and Palghar taluka have a unique history.

Palshi

Palshi community consists of 7 Kul (Sapta Kul).They originally belong Sapta Sindhu Region of Kashmir, which is now called “Shardi” near Muzzafarabad in POK .These people are very honest, gentle and scholarly people with fair complexion, height and physical stature; typical of Kashmiris. King Bindusar brought them to Prathishthanpur around 700 BC for 3 jobs. 1) Mooli, 2)Vali and 3)Pali.

1) “Mooli” means to recognize medicinal roots from forests and prepare medicines from them.

2) “Vali” means assisting and administrating various temples and Dharmashalas on behalf of Rajas.

3) “Pali” means organizing and coordinating people to perform various mega-yajnas and poojas. Administrating the goods required for the Pooja and Yadnya and make provisions for the presiding Brahmins.

It is speciality of this community, that their valour was such great that none of their families converted themselves to Christianity as happened to Shamedis and Bhandaris. That's why these families enjoy high respect among Hindus of Vasai and Mahim. Every marriage ceremony of Panchkalshis and Shamedis are considered incomplete without the presence of Palshis. Shamedis and Panchkalshis find themselves unfortunate if a Palshi refuses to attend the ceremony.

The Vasai Agris reverted in 1820 .The priest who purified and took them back was Ramchandra Baba Joshi, a Palshe headman. One Bhai Mukund Joshi, also a Palshe headman, succeeded Ramchandra. The name of the priest who admitted the Agris in 1828 (November 12) was Vithal Hari Naik, a Palshe gentleman of Vasai. Thus Palashi’s have a great role in saving the Hindu religion in Vasai. Even Pachkalchi is also diverted into Desai which means landlord

Samvedi (brahmin)

Main article: Shamedi

The 'Shri Samvedi' are an Indian community, originating from a group of classical musicians and dancers singing Samveda. They are follower of Samveda. They are Samvedi Brahmans. They are Nayaks and Gayakas, believed to have been originated from Orissa, and who live in 12 villages around the Nirmal Sarovar of Bassein (Vasai), earlier called Shurparak which is in fact and old name of present day sopara.

Their deity is Nirmaleshwar, located towards right of the 7th Jagatguru Shankar acharya Padmanabha Tirtha Swami Samadi and outside the 5th Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vidyaranya Swami Samadhi Mandir on the Nirmal hillock.

The word “Samvedi” is the colloquial term from the original Sanskrit word “Shamaneedresh” (“Shaman = Entertainment”, “Edresh = “Attributed”), meaning those workers in the royal court entertaining the King. The king appointed these people to offer music services at the Samadi place. Shamedis used to offer the “Sanai – Choughada – Mridanga – Bheri – Veena” during the dawn and night worship at Nirmal Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Mandir, Shri Sureshwar (Suleshwar) Mandir and the Bhavani Shankara Mandir (Agassi).

Their Family deity is considered to be the goddesses Bhuvaneshwari and Vimala. These goddesses are said to reside in the Utkala. Samvedis came as expert to Shurparak during the Buddha era rom the place called Utkala, now named as Orissa. Some historians place the date of their arrival in Vasai as late as 1825 AD, since none of the Shamedi person has any written or cultural evidence of their existence before the advent of Peshawas Nor is there any mention of Samvedi community in the Bakhar of Sashti or Mahikavati this provides as a support to the above theory. ^{(All the mythology seems to have been written down here, seems that sanity check is needed )}

There are seven surnames related to this profession.

1. The one who used to compose poetry- drama and act in the drama used to be called as “Nayak” the family of Nayak’s later was called by surname “Naik”.
2. The musicians who used to play the musical instruments made of Brass or Bronze (Vartakam) were called “Vartakah”. This community later was called by surname “Vartak”.
3. The main Singer or main actor in the drama was called as “Mahapatra”, the community of these Mahapatras were later called as “Mahatre”.
4. The chief musical director who used to guide the group of musicians were called “Jyoshih”.The community of these Jyoshis were later called by surname “Joshi”.
5. The commentators of the Musical programme were called “Vache”, later these were called “Vaze”.
6. The one who used to make- up the actors by decorating them with “Patt” i.e. dress, crown etc. were called “Pattolika”. These makeup men community were later called “Pattils” i.e. “Patil”.
7. The surname "Deshmukh" is also found in some samvedis. These 7 surnamed people belong to the following Gotras viz. 1) Bharadwaj 2) Kashyap 3) Atri 4) Kaushik 5) Vashishtha 6) Angirasa.

The traditional profession of Samvedis was to present Music, Dance and Dramas at the Royal Palaces and in the Holy Mandiras as a part of the social awareness of religion. Later during the period of Raja Pratap Bimba the profession shifted to that of cultivating sugarcane and nagvel/panvel leaves since they sold their profession to the Rigvedic Brahmins. The cultivation of paddy was added to the profession in the late 17th century.

The Samvedi society Main villages are as follows 1) Umralla 2) Bolinj 3) Gaas 4) Kohprad 5) Bhuigaon 6) Wagholi 7) Navale 8) Vatar 9) Nalla 10)Mardes 11)Nandakhal i.e. Nandigram

Out Of this 11 villages Umralla, Bhuigaon & Wagholi are too big in terms of area.

Agari

The name Agri comes from Agar, a Salt-pan or bounded farm. The Agri of Maharashtra are also known as Agle and Kharpatil The tradition common among them is that they originally dwelt at Mungi Paithan and were transported to the Konkan by Bimbaraja. Two son's Agla and Mangla, were born to the sage Agasti; the former the ancestor of the Agris, the latter of the Mangelas (Fishermen). The first was told to support himself by the manufacture of salt from the sea, the latter by fishing.

Some Surnames Bhamber, Bhoir, Bholekar, Chavan, Choudhari, Danki, Dasalke, Dhumala, Driyacha, Dukre, Gaikwad, Gavad, Gavil, Shivasi, Gharat, Ghodinde, Gondhali, Gore, Gulvi, Jadhav, Joshi, Juikar, Kadu, Kalaj, Kamane, Karbhari, Kari, Keni, Khambalker, Khanda-Agle, Kharik, Khuntale, Kokati, Kotval, Kutilkar, Madhovi, Mali, Mandre, Mhatre, Mohile, More, Mukadam, Mukul, Naik, Navare, Pangdi, Patil, Pavar, Sare, Sasai, Shelar, Shirke, Sigola, Thakur, Kirad, Vaghoda, Vaze, Yadav. Christian Agris, who reverted to Hinduism in 1820 and others in 1828. They are also known as Nave or New Marathas. Their manners and customs are the same as those of other agris and they worship the Hindu gods. The chief evidence of their having once been Christians is to be found in their surnames, which are Gomes, Soz, Fernat, and Minez. The Vasai Agris reverted in 1820. The priest who purified and took them back was Ramchandra Baba Joshi, a Palshe headman. One Bhai Mukund Joshi, also a Palshe headman, succeeded Ramchandra. The name of the priest who admitted the Agris in 1828 (November 12) was Vithal Hari Naik, a Palshe gentleman of Vasai.^{(Useless details which have no significance to reality as existing today)}

Sandori Christians

Sandori Christians also called Vadvals, Somavanshi. These are mainly from the Sonar (goldsmith), Sutar (Carpenter), and some Bhandari communities of the native Hindus who were converted during the times of Portuguese (However this is unsubstantiated as Christianity was existing in Bacaim before the Portuguese arrived. Common belief in this region is that Christianity was propagated from South India where St Thomas had preached ). The culture of Sandori Christian differs from that of Kuparis . The villages of Mulgaon, Remedy, Sandor, Merces, Girij, and Papdy which fall under Vadval and Bhuigoan, Nandkhal, Umralla, Gass, Nirmal, Agashi fall under Kupari community respectively. Sandori Chritians have done lot for the social development and thus Vasai has a lot of good and developmental institutions. However this rapid urbanization has created a lot of issues in this region like scarcity of electricity and water. Also land grabbers have become rampant in annexing land belonging to locals by bribing local government officials.

Samvedi Christians

Samvedi Christians are an ethnic group based in and around the villages of Vasai. They were converted to Christianity and evanglised during the Portuguese rule in Bombay, while retaining much of their Brahman traditions. the language of these people is samvedi language a mixture of Marathi and Konkani. The villages are Gass, Nirmal, Bhuigoan, Nandhakhal, Nanbhat, Agashi, Shirlaiwadi, Bolinj & Rajodi . People in these regions have surnames like Tuscano, Lopes, Lemos, Rodrigues, Ludrik, Gonsalves, Ghosal, Lobo, D'cunha, D'costa, D'Monte, D'Mello, Damel, D'abreo, Dabre, Mot, Dodti, D'Souza, Soz, Almeida, Dabre, Kudel, Kordeiro, Pen, Pereira, Pirel, Correia, Farrel, Rumao, Goveas, Rodrigues, Machado, Fargose, Alphanso, Fonseca, Fos, D'silva, Figer, Mascarenhas, Vaz, Rebello, Fernandes, Gomes, Kharas, Crasto, Rosario, Luzar, Dias, Dalmet, Tellis, Carvalho, D'Brito some specify as Brito also etc. This people basically do farming in these areas as there is ample of water available in all seasons.they do farming of Onion, Brinjals, Tomatoes, White Onions, Spinach, Coriander etc. which is of sweet water. From This place the Vegetables go to Mumbai early morning by Train to sell in Dadar Market or at various places. By doing farming these areas are developed

Christian Churches in Vasai

• Holy Cross Church, Nirmal (One of the Oldest church in Maharashtra which has 33 Steps as Jesus Lived for 33 Years)
• Our Lady Of Grace Cathedral Church(cathedral), Papdy
• Shrine Of Our Lady of Remedies Church, Remedy
• * Our Lady of Mercy, Merces
• Our Lady of Fatima Church, Chulne
• St. Peter Church, Arnala
• St. Thomas Church, Sandor
• St. Francis Xavier Church, Giriz
• St. Mary Magdalene Church, Mulgaon
• St. Gonsalo Garcia Church, Gass
• St. Michael Church, Manickpur
• Mother of God Church, Palle
• Nirmala Mata Mandir, Umela
• Holy Spirit Church, Nandakhal
• Christ The King Church, Bolinj
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Shirlaiwadi
• Saint James church, Agashi
• St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 100 feet road
• Holy Family Church, Bhuigaon
• St. Joseph Church, Umralla
• St. Paul's Church, Nanbhat
• St. Roque's Church, Gokhivare
• St. Gonsalo Garcia Church, Barampur, Near Bishop's House
• St. Alphonsa Church (Syro-Malabar), Manikpur
• Holy Trinity Church, Gomesali Parisar

See also

• Vasai Road
• Bassein Fort
• Treaty of Bassein (1534)
• Treaty of Bassein (1802)

Gallery

• Colours Of Vasai
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  View of Ambadi Road from the skywalk at 6:30PM.-AG
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  Dattani Square, the upcoming mall.-AG
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  Dattani Square are seen from Umela Road.-AG
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  Icewine, the liquor shop at Stella, Vasai AG
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  'Mambos - The Lounge' at Stella, Vasai West.-AG
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  Vijay Sales, The electronic megastore, near D-Mart, Vasai West.-AG
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  Thie illumnated road towards Manickpur(and Papdi) in the evening.-AG
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  Horse riding at Suruchi Beach.-AG
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  Sunset at Suruchi Beach.-AG
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  The Vasai (West) bus stop.-AG
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  The skywalk near Station road, Vasai West.-AG
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  The crowd persists even after construction of the new skywalk.-AG
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  Chulna Talav (Vasai West).-AG