Bandra Fair, Mumbai

This year the Annual Bandra Fair, which follows the birthday celebration of Mother Mary, started on September 11 (Sunday) at Mt. Mary Basilica, Bandra, Mumbai.  The festival also known as the  'Feast of Mount Mary' is a week-long festivity,  held annually every September.

Sunday, being a holiday, I went to the Mount Mary Fair on the first day itself.  For the next one week, the city becomes one of the most crowded places in Mumbai.  The steps leading to  Mount Mary Church get an artistic makeover on the occasion of the festival.

There are numerous stalls on the way.  Free Bibles were on offer while people made way from queues. It is an absolute celebration with food stalls, street events and shopping pleasures. Stalls on both sides of the road that lead to the church sells candles shaped like hands, feet etc etc.

There is something very special to be enjoyed  here and people across communities come to the church to pray and celebrate.

People gather at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount 

After offering prayers at the church, I headed towards the fair. The venue is the Mount Mary Church complex and all the lanes surrounding the church. The entry and exit had been well-marked and it was easy to pass through the gates.

Shops and kiosks  on either sides of the fair sold  clothes, accessories, roasted grams, Rajasthani pickles to Goan sweets. The festival also hosts a lot of fun activities such as joyrides and various slides for children and youngsters.

This is also one of the Street Food Festival, which brings together the best of cheap, all types of Indian street food. What drew my attention the most were the pickles with different flavors. The vibrant colors and taste of the pickles basket made it look more alluring and unavoidable.

Of course, the fair was a great opportunity to know new things about the city and its culture. Hope I find you somewhere in the crowd next time.

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