MOUNT ST. MARY BASILICA, BANDRA
A number of Roman Catholic churches were built by the Portuguese, who retained Bandra until the 18th century; the most important of these is the Mount St Mary Basilica, which attracts devotees of all faiths. The church is situated on a hillock above 80metres above sea level overlooking the Arabian Sea. It draws lakhs of devotees every year and pilgrims. Ms Niyati Dhonde, 28 years working for the High court is visiting the Mount Mary’s since seven years as she believes that in spite of her being a Hindu, makes sure that she attends the Novena’s and also offers prayers to the statue of Mount Mary for thanksgiving or requesting of favors. She also included saying that,’ no matter which religion you belong but for Our Lady everyone is equal and each one is her child’ , as she feels that Mother always fulfils her genuine wishes, if her prayers are made earnestly and faithfully.
It is believed that in the year 1570, the Jesuits built a church in Bandra, and till date is a living tribute to Mother Mary and is one of the most visited churches in Mumbai. It is one of the most prominent churches in Mumbai, with devotees flocking here from all faith. It is situated in West Bandra past Hill Road and one can commute quite easily as Bandra railway station is nearby, besides the BEST buses , auto rickshaws and taxis are abundant and all this makes travelling to Mount Mary’s very easy. Mrs. Joan Dlima a resident from Vasai ,42 years old Teacher by profession says that no matter the distance and obstacles coming her way, as the rains still seem to be flooding the place in the month of September, but she and her family make it a point to visit Our lady and attend at least one novena service each year.
Every September, the feast of Mount Mary is celebrated on the Sunday following eight September, the birthday of Virgin Mary This is a week long celebration known as the Bandra fair, as Bandra gets a carnival look with festoons and buntings, with loads of fun and folic happening round the place. Ms Sarah, student 20 years and a parishioner from Mt. Carmel’s Church happily expresses saying that she awaits for the Bandra fair as she gets to remain till late hours enjoying the fete with her friends, and concludes saying it’s the festival for every Bandraite, with baked chicken along with dance and merry happening at home.
Streets outside the church have shops, stalls and mini bazaars selling candles, clothes, snacks, food, candy floss, etc. Many sweet shops put up, sell traditional jiggery sweet dodol, guava chese and varieties of goan sweet items. There are also many rides and road side games, the September garden has the famous giant wheel ride explains Mr. Noel D’souza 49years old as he feels it is still enjoyable, scary , amazing; which gets back refreshing his yester years memories. Stalls outside the church also sell objects like wax idols of the Virgin Mary along with an assortment of candles in shapes of various body parts and also other shapes like houses, money, etc are sold thereby each shape having a special significance . The sick choose one part which matches to their ailment, thereby lighting it in the church with the hope that Mother Mary will consider their petition for help. Mr. Chris D’silva 34 years a sports player and a strong believer in Our Lady said that he was getting severe pain in his knee and having strong faith in mother kept offering the wax symbol of his knee and later after a month felt ease and he feels that because of mother’s grace he could get back on the sports field.
The Bandra fair seems to get different thoughts for every person, as Nigel D’souza , 19years student finds that it is a good place to hangout , but also feels the crowd there gets too restless and is bad, he also explains saying that people of different faiths come to get a glimpse of Our Lady. He being visiting the place since five to six years feels that it’s ‘a place where you experience the spiritual as well as the fun part of life’. Whereas Alyssa Lobo, 21 years, student doing Social media and Communication, also being a resident from Bandra feels that the fair is a pain in the ass as it deals with a lot of noise, dirt, etc. She also states saying that her Music Teacher who stays just opposite the church takes a week off , as because of the noise around cannot conduct her music classes. She concludes saying that it is good to see people attending church at this time in huge numbers with strong trust in Mary.
Ms Karen Vaz , 25 years working with a Co-operate Company feels that Mt. Mary’s church is just as picturesque as it’s sacred , one can watch the sunset and calmness that engulfs Arabian sea from this place . She also explains saying that with devotees flocking Mt. Mary Church all round the year , it has gained a special place of faith among the hearts of people from all sects and religion, she thereby concludes saying ‘that any part of the day if one feels weak , one must go there and experience the presence , the freshness and the fragrance with loads of positivity in the air around there’. Miss Carol Vaz , 21 years student believes that Mt. Mary’s Basilica is indeed an icon in Mumbai as people come from every arena to worship Mary, she feels that specially in the month of September most people attend the novena daily also at the end enjoy by experiencing a happy moment in the fete. She further explains saying that its become so famous that even most of the Bollywood director’s as well as producers prefer shooting their movies at the Basilica to get the natural beauty of this place in their movies.
At the Basilica even today, the statue is venerated and many miracles, minor and major, are attributed to the deity. The Marathi speaking communities refer Mother Mary as ‘Math Mauli’. Legend has it that a Kholi fisherman dreamt that he would find a statue of Mother Mary floating in the Arabian Sea, true enough it was recovered by fishermen between1700 and 1760. The fair is being awaited by mostly every person and people attending the place repeatedly every year, in spite of the crowd, because of the deep faith in Mother Mar , love being a part of it.
Fr.Sanjay Lopes, Administrator of Our lady of Dolours Church Wadala feels that people come here to honour Blessed Mother, people in groups specially the youth group of his parish go on a pilgrimage to the Basilica. He also believes that many devotees come with strong faith in our Blessed Mother for miracles and for the grace to cope up with life. He also states saying that during the fete the place becomes a spiritual as well as a commercial place also adds to it saying that many people also come to earn money at the expensive of the devotee. He also says that Blessed Mother is venerated as Mount Mary and so people feel her closeness and protection under this title. He concludes saying that the people of all faith have built a strong trust in mother, and it’s great to see number and number of devotees being present each year there to experience Mother Mary’s love.
Mount Mary’s Basilica stands firm as a true icon not of glamour but an icon having the presence felt by every devotee in the Basilica and also while interceding through her to Jesus. The statue of Mt. Mary in white, stands filled with purity which each devotee captures on the very glimpse of her statue. A quite and silent prayer at the Basilica makes one experience and feels the true silence which is lost in one’s daily living with more of the social and professional life being the reason and motive of living.
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REFERENCES
• Wiblography
www.bombay-mumbai-hotels.com/.../mt-mary-church.html -
blogs.mybandra.com/.../bandra-mount-mary-festival-its-that-time-of-the-year-in-bandra/-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mary_Church,_Bandra
• Bibliography
BOOK: EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES INDIA
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