Indian Coast Guard (Western Region) headquarters in Worli is a small lane that branches off the main road, and ends at a small passageway that leads to the sea. This is the Golfa Devi Marg, home to the Golfa Devi Mandir. For a tiny lane and nondescript temple, the Golfa Devi Marg is central to the Koli fishing community, whose members are among Mumbai’s original inhabitants. Koli people do not start any task before seeking permission from the Goddess, be it a wedding, a journey or a sea excursion to catch fish. Legends of the temple, which is over seven centuries old, are spread across the fishing village. On a Guru Purnima evening several years ago in monsoon, Golfa Devi warned fishermen not to go out to sea to lay their nets. Yet, one fisherman went out. That day, a storm raged and he never returned, says Avinash Patil, a retired fisherman. The Goddess knows everything, he added. Inside the temple, which has been under renovation for the last 15 years, with Golfa Devi sit her two sisters, Harbha Devi and Sakbha Devi. The trio of statues was believed to have been floating above the ocean floor before being discovered by fishermen. The fishermen who went to pick them were confounded, due to the substantial weight of the statues. If one comes here with a particular wish and prays wholeheartedly, his wishes are sure to come true. The Goddess listens to everyone, says Raju Shikhari, a shopkeeper. Sadanand Warlekar, the priest of the temple, explains how Golfa Devi answers the queries of her worshippers in a manner that is decipherable. Faith in Golfa Devi is strong in the fishing community. Whenever they have a question, they come and ask the Goddess. A silver magnet is placed on either side of Golfa Devi’s ear. If the answer to the question is positive, the one on the right side falls off first and if the one on the left falls, the answer is no. In my 17 years as priest, she has never been wrong, he claims. Several similar temples dedicated to such deities are spread across the fishing localities of Mumbai. Says Warlekar, Jivdani Mata’s temple is situated atop a hill in Virar, while Harbha Devi also has a temple dedicated to her on Madh Island near Versova. Gaon Devi has her own place of worship near Mazgaon. The name of the Golfa Devi Marg hasn’t been changed in 25 years. The road was named after the deity as a tribute to her by the Koli fishing community, says Kurush Dalal, an archaeologist specialising in areas in South Mumbai.