For some Marathi residents in Bengaluru, finding a job, a home or a familiar face has become easier through a community network that has grown beyond its cultural roots.Harish Bhosale, 43, knows this journey well. Originally from Solapur, he put his professional pursuits on hold in 2013 and spent time exploring the Western Ghats and Sharavati Valley. Camping on peaks, getting stuck and needing rescue, spotting butterflies and discovering hidden waterfalls gave him an adrenaline rush. However, when his savings ran out, he decided to return to work.His career break led to repeated rejections at the screening stage. Later, he connected with Bangalore Marathi. Members referred him for jobs, helping him land a role at an Indian service-based company, where he worked for more than a year. He later switched jobs several times, some through referrals, before stabilising at a multinational semiconductor firm. Today, he helps others through the job forum.Bangalore Marathi, which came into being 15 years ago, has evolved from organising Ganesh Chaturthi and haldi-kumkum celebrations into a support system offering employment assistance, professional networking, matrimony and help with housing, says Dr Shrutika Itkelwar, a Marathi dentist associated with Motherhood Hospital who joined the community six years ago. Central to this effort is Marathi Connect, which promotes job referrals across industries.Bangalore Marathi co-founder Kapil Ingale says hundreds of entrepreneurs participate in networking events organised by Marathi Connect. “It hosts monthly entrepreneur conferences and social meetups for newcomers seeking jobs in real estate, finance, hospitality, pharma, travel, lifestyle, sports and manufacturing,” he says.Nurturing Business GrowthIngale, an engineering graduate from Nagpur, moved to Bengaluru when he was 23. After gaining experience at Cognizant, he entered hospitality with Home Awaits, which offers accommodation across the city.He says the community complements his business, with about half his guests coming from the Marathi community. Hosting celebrities and crews for cultural and theatre events at his properties boosts visibility.For Varsha Barde from Pune, community support has helped her move from two decades in IT to wellness and entrepreneurship. Her brand sells beauty and wellness products.“Marathi Connect means the world to me. The community generates referrals and builds trust in the brand through community backing,” she says. “We look forward to our monthly meetings, social events and business meetups.”A Haven For NewcomersAfter relocating to Bengaluru, Vivek Yawalkar, 51, a commercial artist from Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, struggled initially with language and contacts. Bangalore Marathi helped him find affordable housing.“Community members offered me a serviced 1 BHK in Brookfield for Rs 25,000 a month,” he says. He moves to a larger unit when family visits.WhatsApp and Facebook groups also help members with daily needs, including doctors, plumbers, Marathi food and shared travel. A 100-member Marathi business group gave Yawalkar networking and business opportunities.Through these connections, he is now thriving where he struggled until a year ago. Looking back, Yawalkar says connecting with Ingale became a turning point. He now hopes to settle in Bengaluru.Beyond CultureBangalore Marathi has more than 1,13,000 Instagram followers and over 20,000 Telegram members, Ingale says. Its social media presence helps Marathi-owned homestays, food suppliers and home cooks when theatre companies arrive in the city. Artisans, including Ganesh idol makers, also receive promotional support. During Sankranti, the group organised a haldi-kumkum programme in HSR Layout attended by about 1,000 married women, says Itkelwar.For Ragini Satish Naik, 43, from Gokak, the community offered something personal. After moving to Bengaluru to look after her daughters Swara and Shambavi, she missed familiar faces and a sense of community. A conversation during a Marathi film screening opened the door to Bengaluru’s community.Later, a chance meeting with Jayanti, a Maharashtrian settled in Bengaluru, helped Naik find accommodation.Her husband, Satish, lives in their hometown and visits them twice a month. In his absence, the Marathi community has become an extended family for Naik and her daughters.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Over four lakh Marathi-speaking people are now connected through Bangalore Marathi. Many stay connected through sub-groups too. BM Learn Kannada is one such groupKapil Ingale, Co-founder, Bangalore MarathiSettling in Bengaluru as a Marathi person involved initial language challenges that later faded. After nearly two decades, Bengaluru now feels like homeDr Shrutika Itkelwar, Dentist and member, Bangalore MarathiThrough groups such as Amhi Marathi and Mitramandal Bengaluru Parivar, I discoveredhandicraft workshops and ‘ukadiche modak’ sessionsRagini Satish Naik, HomemakerI’ve been in Bengaluru for the last 14 years. Marathi Connect network, a community I’m a part of, has given me a platform to talk about my journey and my brand. It helps build contactsVarsha Barde, Entrepreneur
