Hoige Bazaar

Hoige Bazaar is a locality in Mangalore city of Karnataka with some old tile factories, fishing industry, and a branch of the College of Fisheries. Many Mogaveera families live here as they mostly work in the fishing industry. However, the younger generation of the Mogaveera families have gained good education and either working in the Banking, Engineering, or Medical fields. Many of the youth preferred to move out of the town to either Mumbai, or Middle East, UK, US, or other countries for better opportunities in their life.

Hoige Bazaar, abutting the estuary of River Netravati and River Gurpur, was a very busy bazaar until the 1950s, when the tile industry was in good shape. Country crafts from all ports on the west coast from Veraval in Gujarat, Dabhol and Ratnagiri from Maharashtra and Tuticorin from Tamil Nadu as well as from Colombo in Sri Lanka anchored here to carry tiles to other ports. With the decline of tile industry, this part of the city has become a sleepy locality.

People from this ward have played a significant role in the freedom struggle. Sree Jnanodaya Samaj Mandir, a 100-year-old educational institution, was visited by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932, when he came to Mangalore (a.k.a. Mangaluru.) Jnanodaya Samaj Mandir hosted many local weddings, political, spiritual and religious meetings for more than a century. Jnanodaya Mandira also had a Public Library, Kusti (Wrestling) Center or a Vyayama School (Gym) and a Post office for helping the local citizens. Many of the students who went to this gym became popular body builders, wrestlers, and fitness gurus.

Mangaluru Thota was later named Hoige Bazar, as it was one of the ancient ports famous for its trade and commerce activities. It also contained one of the ancient temples dedicated to the mother goddess Dhoomavathi, which is estimated to be more than nine hundred years old. It is situated in a Mangalore Thota house belonging to a Billava family whose family deity the mother goddess is. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya where He is worshiped in the form of a Linga. Legend has it that Devi Dhoomavathi who is the ruling deity of Mangalore Thota village granted permission to Sri Mariamma to settle in her beautiful village on condition that she, Dhoomavathi, must be first worshipped by the devotees who come to her Mariamma temple.

Dhoomavathi Nema (Kola) is the annual festival mostly celebrated for three days, April 20-22, every year. Dhoomavathi Games Club, a youth club, helped in organizing the Nema with the support of the Billava family, and the local people.

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