 Where miracles abound…
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, popularly known as Mount Mary, is a Roman Catholic church situated in suburban Bandra. This neo-gothic architectural beauty is built of Khandki and Porbunder stone and is one of the most prominent churches in Mumbai.
It is situated on a quiet hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea, around 80 ft above sea level. The church is dedicated to Virgin Mother Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The Blessed Virgin Mary is also referred to as ‘Math Mauli’ by Marathi speaking communities.
It is believed that no prayer made to Mother Mary ever goes in vain. It is therefore not surprising that millions of devotees of various religious beliefs and from different walks of life throng the church throughout the year to seek her blessings. The sick and the suffering believe that the mother will heal them and alleviate their sufferings. Students appearing for difficult exams ask for success and the childless ask for children. It is said that the church got its reputation for answering prayers when the wish of a Parsi couple for a child was granted. The couple, Sir Jamshetjee Jeejeebhoy and Lady Jamshetjee, built a causeway between Mahim and Bandra, which was then separated by the sea, when their daughter was born. People now light creatively designed candles in the shape of limbs and other body parts denoting the specific area of ailment in front of the statue of Mother Mary, in the hope of being cured.
Phoenix from the flames – Rebuilding the church
The church itself has an interesting history. The original chapel of Mount Mary was built around 1640 by Jesuit priests who brought with them the statue of Mother Mary all the way from Portugal. Somewhere around 1700, Arab pirates disfigured the statue by cutting off the right hand to take away the gilt-lined object held in the hand of the statue.
The chapel itself was destroyed during a Maratha raid in 1738. The church was built again in 1760. According to folklore, a Koli fisherman found the disfigured statue of Mount Mary floating in the sea. This statue was re-adorned with a child in her arms and reinstalled in 1761. In 1904, the shrine was given most of the present day features after renovation. This was done as part of the golden jubilee of Pope Pius IX's Declaration of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. Later, in 1954, Pope Pius XII designated the shrine as a Minor Basilica during the National Marian Congress. This designation allowed the church to be placed on the list of the most venerated places of Marian Devotion in the world.
Devotion and Festivities at Bandra Fair
Mount Mary Church is also famous for the Bandra Fair that is organised for a period of eight days starting on the Sunday following September 8. This is preceded by a week of devotion and novena. Throughout the eight days of festivities, there is a carnival-like atmosphere in Bandra. Shops and mini-bazaars offer everything from food, shopping opportunities and joyrides to street plays, musical concerts, book readings and food festivals. It is an event that Mumbai looks forward to each year.
Ruchika Batra
Address:
Mount Mary Church, Mt. Mary's Road, Near Bandstand, Bandra (W), Mumbai – 400 050
Tel: 2642 3152
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