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Basilica of Our Lady of The Mount

Description

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, It is also known as Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica located in Bandra, Mumbai. The festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated here on the first Sunday after 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. The festival is followed by a week-long celebration known locally as the Bandra Fair and is visited by thousands of people. The basilica stands on the hillock, approx 80 metres above sea level overlooking the Arabian Sea. It draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims annually. The church attracts people from all religions who pray to Virgin Mary for expressing their gratitude or requesting favours. In 1738 church was destroyed, during a raid by the Marathas.

History

Although the current church edifice is just 100 years old, the history behind the present statue of Our Lady goes back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the statue to the current area and constructed a church. In 1700 Arab pirates interested in the gilt-lined object held in hand disfigured the statue by cutting off the right side. In 1760, the church was reconstruction and the statue was replaced with a statue of Our Lady of Navigators in St. Andrew's church nearby. This statue has an interesting legend. It goes that a Koli-fisherman dreamt that he would find the statue in the ocean. The statue was seen floating in the sea between 1700 and 1760. A Jesuit Annual Letter began to 1669 and published in the book St. Andrew's Church, Bandra (1616–1966) supports this claim. The Koli Fishermen call the statue as Mot Mauli (The Pearl Mother). However the former statue is now restored and now enjoys the place of honour in the basilica. Both Hindu and Christian Kolis visit this church often giving it a kind of syncretic nature.

Full Address

Basilica of Our Lady of The Mount, Mt Mary Rd, Mount Mary, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050, India

 

Type of Place

  • Church
  • Historical

Prefered For

  • Couples
  • Friends
  • Kids
  • Family
  • Senior Citizen

Transportation

  • Chhatrapati shivaji International airport
  • Bandra Railway station

Important Information

  • Location: Mt. Mary's Road, Near Bandstand, Bandra West, Mumbai. You can attend festive activities during 'Bandra Fair' and offer prayers at the church.
  • ~TIMINGS: 9:00 am to 12:30pm 3:30 pm to 7:30pm Open: all days of week ~Good for: god lovers,experience seekers,photo fanatics

Attraction

  • During the Bandra Fair, the total area is decorated with buntings and festoons. Many pitches up small stalls selling up religious articles, roasted grams, snacks and sweets. Wax fi Mary, along with figures assortment of candles shaped like hands, feet and various other parts of the body is sold at kiosks. The sick and the distress choose a candle or wax figure that corresponds to their ailment and light it in Church, with the holy hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.

Things to Buy

  • ~Linking Road, Bandr Situated: Right opposite R.D. National College Best for: Accessories, clothes, shoes for both men and women. ~Colaba Causeway, Colaba Situated: Close to Fort area and Cuffe Parade Best for: Books, jewelry, handicraft and cloths. ~Lamington Road, Grant Road Situated: Near Grant Road railway station. Best for: Electronics, gadgets, mobile phones, laptopns etc. ~Fashion Street, MG Road Situated: Near Azad Maidan Best for: High street fashion trends in cheap prices. ~Crawford Market Situated: North of Shivaji Terminus and near J.J. flyover. Best for: Wholesale home utility products, exotic fruits ~Hill Road, Bandra Situated near: Elco Restaurant Best for: Hardware, wood work, wholesale general stores and cloth shops

Things to Eat

  • ~Multi cuisine restaurant- Chinese, Indian, Asian ~Punjabi spice- indian, Thai ~Alfa spice restaurant- indian,Asian,vegetarian ~Flavours- Indian, fast food, Chinese ~Crystal palace- Indian, Asian ~Hotel rajmahal restaurant- indian, bar,Asian

Things to enjoy

  • People who suffer from any disease bring wax depicting their illnesses to the Church in the hope that they would be cured. For example, a person with a broken hand will bring a wax figure of a hand. The week of the 'Bandra Fair' or the 'Feast of Mount Mary', which is held in September, is a perfect time to visit Mount Mary Church as it is completely decorated. One can shop for religious craft, innovatively shaped candles, wax figures of Virgin Mary or even buy Goan sweets from the various stalls outside the church.