It's a no-brainer that access to any community’s secret recipes, mom-run cloud kitchens and traditional fabrics can be a tough task if you are looking at it from the outside in. And while East Indians (EIs) might be tight-lipped when it comes to sharing the contents of their bottle masala or the ingredients of heirloom recipes, they surely have no qualms with sending you a topli full of fugiyas. With the view of sharing EI culture with the city, promoting entrepreneurship, and also doubling down on their aim to bring the gaothans of Mumbai together, the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP) launches their latest initiative Mobaikar-The Gaothan Store. The chain of nine outlets will operate from homes, shops, village festival stalls and even stores on wheels at Kalina, Kurla, Thane, Bandra, Vakola, Manori, Naigaon, Amboli and Kharodi. The stores under the initiative will have in-house wares on sale and stock products procured from members of the community and EI self-help groups, making it a comprehensive curation and a one-stop-shop. We head to the first of the shops that’s up and running at Kalina for a first-look.

Draped lugra; potlis, scrunchies and bags (Rs 100 to Rs 250) from lugra material