Chinese Temple at Nawab Tank in Mazagaon
Another community that migrated to India during the colonial era were the Chinese, who arrived in Mumbai in the mid-19th century, mostly as sailors or traders. The majority of arrivals were from the See Yup Koon sub-ethnic group, which originated in the Siyi (Four Counties) region of Guangdong province. Due to its proximity to the docks, they settled in Mazagaon, where they found employment in trades such as carpentry, dentistry, shoemaking, and laundry services. The Chinese community in Mazagaon had their own temples and community centres where they gathered for worship, social activities, and cultural events. Among them is the Chinese Temple at 12 Nawab Tank Road, which has played a crucial role in maintaining a sense of identity and community.
Each year, the community comes together at the temple to celebrate the Chinese New Year with dragon dances, fireworks, and traditional food. The temple is a double-story building. The first-floor shrine honours Kwan Kung, also known as Guan Gong, a significant figure in Chinese folk religion, Taoism, and Confucianism. Kuan Yin (also spelled Guanyin), the Bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, is the main deity of the ground-floor shrine. The temple got a facelift recently, thanks to film director and producer Vishal Bhardwaj, who filmed parts of an episode in the 'Modern Love: Mumbai' anthology. The OTT series premiered on Amazon Prime on May 13, 2022.
Post-Indian independence and particularly after the Sino-Indian War in 1962, many Chinese Indians faced suspicion and discrimination. This led to a significant decline in the Chinese population in Mazagaon, as many migrated to other countries or moved to different parts of India. Changes in economic opportunities and urban development also contributed to the dispersal of the Chinese community from Mazagaon. Although their numbers have dwindled and the once bustling community has dispersed, the historical significance of the Chinese in Mazagaon remains an important chapter in the story of Mumbai's diverse and multicultural heritage.
