“The festivals are like a map charting our spiritual progress in God.”
Anonymous
Celebrating the Feast at Mount Mary Fair
Come September and the whole of Mumbai gets together to celebrate the Divine, be it at the Dahi Handi, Ganapati Festival or the Mount Mary Fair. The religions may be different, places may be near or far, but the fervour remains the same. And the best part is that Mumbai, as a true cosmopolitan, takes part wholeheartedly.
The Basilica of Mount Mary at Bandra is one of the oldest churches in Mumbai. Its legendary stories and the Gothic architecture beckon all who pass through Mumbai. That apart, the fame of Nossa Senhora de Monte is more for Our Lady’s benevolence than any other. From its humble beginnings as an oratory to Portuguese soldiers, the Mount Mary Church attracts people of all faiths for its Masses and Novenas.
The Feast of Mount Mary
Every year on the 8th of September, the Basilica celebrates the Feast of the Nativity (Birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary, preceded by the Novena. Called the Bandra Fair, the Feast happens over an octave, or eight days. The feast is important because it is from the womb of Mary, the Saviour of the world would be born. Since no information exists on the date of birth of Mary, we accept this date as a tradition.
During the Novena, the Church has masses both morning and evening, but on the Feast Days it’s only once in the morning. The rest of the day, everyone makes a beeline to get a glimpse of the Mother. The road and the steps leading to the Basilica line up with temporary shops selling everything from candles to street food, clothes, trinkets and what have you.
Since the 17th century, the Bandra Fair calls out to the faithful and those looking for just some fun to revel and forget about worries for those eight days. Celebrating the Feast at the Mount Mary Fair is the ideal way to get closer to divinity while enjoying the worldly pleasures.
