Hi,

Welcome to "Chitpavan", a discussion group to help bring the
Chitpavan community together. This group is meant as a forum
for community networking, and working towards constructive
goals; hate and other prejudiced discussions are not
accepted.

The group started out as a support forum for the website,
http://www.kokanastha.com All the regular members have
strived hard to remove any caste-bias, and to contribute
efforts in preserving the Chitpavan way of life. We are part
of a network of groups and websites, that work together for
the same goals.

Websites:
http://www.aparant.org/
http://www.kobraweb.com/
http://www.kokanastha.com/

Mailing Lists:
mail@aparant.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chitpavan/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chitpavan-welfare/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kobraweb/

Besides these online forums, people here also organise
regular events, through informal meetings called "katta's"
in various parts of Mumbai, Pune etc. Some enterprising
members are also working towards long-term ambitious
projects such as student hostels, medical relief, etc.

This group is a convenient forum for give and take of
opinions, over various issues, across geographical barriers
... new members are surprised by the number of mails and
their apparently confrontational nature. We would like to
advice you as a new member to first understand what goes on
here, and refrain from posting for at least one week, until
you get a feel of the group.

A katta is an offline forum, to complement these
yahoogroups. The katta's help to break out of the Internet
and get in direct touch with people. They are open to all
Chitpavans, irrespective of group membership. The katta
meetings are held at various places in Mumbai and Pune, so
you can attend the one nearest to you. Additionally, if you
want to start one more in your locality or city, you are
definitely encouraged to do so.