Mount St Mary Church

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, which most people call Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in Bandra, Mumbai. It is one of the most well-known buildings in Mumbai and one of the most well-known places to visit in Mumbai. The Church stands on a hill called Sunderban Bandra, rising about 80 m above sea level and overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Annual Mount Mary Fair and Celebrations

The 8th September feast of Our Lady of the Mount is dubbed 'The Bandra Fair'. It is also called the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Nativity. Without Mary, the world would not have known Jesus, the Saviour. Therefore, people visit the basilica on this day to honour the wonderful mother. The faithful perform Mass in a shamiana and then bless Mary in the basilica. It is a significant event included in many Mumbai tour packages.

Bandra Fair is an eight-day 'octave' festivity. A nine-day "novena" honouring Mary precedes this eight-day feast, making it 17 days long! Vendors sell black grams, candies, and sugar-coated 'Kadio Badios' Ferris wheels; games and exciting activities await everyone. Daily, fancy bullock carts bring pilgrims to the Church, where tea booths, food stands, etc., line the approach route. People from all across the city attend it.

Historical Background of Mount Mary Church

In the late 15th century, a Jesuit priest planned to build a tiny chapel for Mary. The builders constructed the Church using mud on a hill overlooking the Arabian Sea in Bandra. This building became a chapel around 1640. The surge in devotees and visitors caused the change.

A Muscat Arab pirate force assaulted the cathedral in the 1700s. An attack damaged the Church and cut off the Virgin Mary statue's right arm. The Our Lady of Navigators statue from St. Andrew's Church's side altar replaced the shattered statue. In 1761, people renovated the Church and repaired the Virgin Mary statue. People placed a small detachable statue of baby Jesus where the hand had been cut off. The Church still worships the exact Virgin Mary figure.

Peaceful Ambience and Spiritual Importance

The Church has two images of Mary, one inside and one outside. It's a great spot for people who want to find peace and learn about colonial architecture.

Faithful people think the Church has amazing healing skills, which is why many people go there daily. People who are sick bring wax models of their sicknesses to the Mount Mary Church in the hopes that they will get better. Some also say that people who pray at the Mount Mary Church often get what they want.