A land that is home to major religions of the world, thousands make their way up to Basilica of Mount Mary in Bandra, where an eight day long fair is held every year in the city of Mumbai, India. This fair is called ‘Bandra Fair’, and is celebrated every September since 300 years and dedicated in honor of Mount Mary.
History of Bandra
Mumbai was originally seven islands, and Bandra was a tiny fishing village inhabited by farmers and fishermen called ‘Kolis’. The Bandra suburb at one time peopled mainly East Indians (original residents of Bombay Salsette, Bassein, and Thana), Goans, Mangalorian immigrants, Parsis, Muslims, Europeans and Hindu Kolis.
In the year 1543, the Portuguese took possession of the island of Bombay by force and gave the Jesuit priests the sole ownership of Bandra, Parel, Wadala, and Sion. Bandra was acquired by the British East India Company while the rest of Bombay belonged to the Portuguese.
Origin of Name
The name ‘Bandra’ came from the Marathi name ‘Vandra’. Originally it was known as Vandra or Ape as it was the home of monkeys. It was later called Bandor by the Portuguese in 1505. It also came to be called Bandera, Bandura, Bandore, Pandara, Bandorah, Bandara and finally Bandra - when a railway sign board finalized the name at the end of the last century.
Distinction
In the year 1570, the Jesuits built a church in Bandra, and thereafter several other churches came up. There are more than 150 crosses built at various places in Bandra to ward off the plague epidemic (1896-1906).
Basilica of Our lady of the Mount
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary, has crowned the Bandra hill for the last 100 years. It is a Roman Catholic Church situated about 80 meters above sea level on a quiet hillock in suburban Bandra and overlooks the Arabian Sea. It is a living tribute to Mother Mary, and is one of the most visited churches in Mumbai. 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’.
In the 16th century the Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the statue to the current location and constructed a chapel of Mount Mary around 1640. This was destroyed in 1738 during a Maratha raid. The Arab pirates interested in the gilt-lined object held in the hand disfigured the statue by cutting off the right hand. Legend has it that a Koli fisherman dreamt that he would find a statue of Mother Mary floating in the Arabian Sea. True enough it was recovered by fishermen between 1700 and 1760 and temporarily installed in St. Andrews, before being shifted to the rebuilt Mount Mary in 1761. The original statue was re-adorned with a child in her arms and has been in use ever since, and the church opened for public worship. The architect of Mount Mary’s church was Shahpoorjee Chandabhoy from Bombay, and the basilica was built in 1904.
Bandra Fair
The Bandra Fair begins on the Sunday following the birthday of Mother Mary and families line up for hours for mass outside Mt. Mary Church. Bandra wears a carnival look with festoons and buntings, and the fair has all the excitement and is visited by thousands of people. Besides candles, objects like wax idols of the Virgin Mary along with an assortment of candles in the shape of various body parts like eyes, ears, nose, legs and other shapes like houses, dolls, aero planes, money, etc. are sold. Here each shape has a special significance. The sick and suffering choose one that corresponds to their ailment and light it in the Church with the pious hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help. Have painful arthritis? Give a leg. Want a baby? Give a doll. Wish for a safe journey? Give a plane. Many attest to the miraculous powers of the Mount. And thus believers to the Mount Mary church at Bandra offer these as part of their prayers and say that the offerings can help cure illnesses.
Festivity
Streets outside the church have shops, stalls and mini bazaars selling candles, clothes, candy floss, sweets, snacks, food and toys. Sweet shops offer traditional cookie-type bolinhos, jiggery-sweet dodol and pink guava cheese, and Goan sweet items. There are also road side games and joyrides. One such game is the shot game where gifts are spread on a low long platform. And the rules are simple. Just pay the guy 10 bucks, grab a set of rings, stand at a fair distance and throw it on the platform. If you are lucky to ring a gift on the platform, you could walk away with a packet of biscuits, a soap or a cold drink! Apart from these are street plays, musical concerts, book readings and food festivals. All these become a part of the celebrations.
Faith
Mount Mary draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims every year from all faiths that come to offer prayers to the statue for thanksgiving or requesting of favors. They believe that the Mother fulfils their genuine wishes if their prayers are made earnestly and faithfully.
Transportation
Transportation is easy as Bandra railway station is nearby. Besides, B.E.S.T buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are abundant and all this makes traveling to Mount Mary very easy.
 |
