The Konkan (Marathi/Konkani: कॉंकण), (Kannada/Tulu:ಕೊಂಕಣ ಕರಾವಳಿ) also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore. The sapta-Konkan is a slightly larger region described in the Skanda Purana.

Konkan Division is also one of six administrative sub-divisions of the state of Maharashtra, comprising its coastal districts.

Residents of Konkan and their descendants are called Konkanis. The name may also refer specifically to the Konkani people, ethnic group of the region; most of whom speak the Konkani language. Besides the Konkanis the other major ethnic group are the Tuluvas, mostly living the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka state. In the Uttara Kannada district and in some parts of Udupi District Kannada is widely spoken Language. The Sanskrit term Konkanastha (कोंकणस्थ), means "Resident of Konkan".

The precise definition of Konkan varies, but most include Maharashtra's districts of Raigad, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, the state of Goa, and the Uttara Kannada, Udupi and South Kanara districts of Karnataka.

Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted notice as Handcuff Harry, on a tour of Europe, where he would sensationally challenge different police-forces to try to keep him locked up. This revealed a talent for gimmickry and for audience involvement that would characterise all his work. Soon he was extending his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to hold his breath inside a sealed milk-can.

In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from a special handcuff commissioned by London's Daily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. While many suspected that these escapes were fabricated, it is ironic that Houdini was meanwhile presenting himself as the scourge of fake magicians and spiritualists. As President of the Society of American Magicians, he was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists who gave practitioners a bad name. He was also quick to sue anyone who pirated his own escape-stunts.