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Bandra Fair begins today but here is how it all began 300 years ago
The eight-day Bandra Fair attracts people of all faiths and starts after the first Sunday of Mother Mary’s birthday.
Updated : Sep 13, 2015, 12:12 PM IST
 "Bandra Fair")
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Like every year the Bandra Fair at Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount more popularly known as the Mount Mary Church, Bandra will begin today, Sepetember 13, 2015.
The fair will go on for a week and see lakhs flock to Mount Mary to take blessings, shop, eat and of course socialise.
How it began
Held annually in Bandra it begins on the Sunday that comes after September 8 celebrated as the Feast of Nativity of Mary at the Mount Mary church. Legend has it that a statue of Mother Mary was discovered floating by a fisherman in the Arabian Sea some three hundred years a go. It is also said that the fisherman had a dream about this happening a couple of years before finding the statue.
The Bandra fair has been held every year since then.
Also Read: Devotees flock Bandra to mark Mother Mary’s birthday
What happens
The pilgrims and devotees come to thank and pray to Mary. Stalls and pop-up kiosks are set up all through the week. While several sell religious artefacts the most symbolic of these are the candles shaped like different parts of the body. Devotees offer the candle that represents the part of the body that they have health issues with, in the basilica.
Taking the concept further several other shapes such as houses, cars and so on have also been seen in more recent times. One can also buy typical sweets such as Guava cheese, Mawa peda, Halwa, Chikki and Kadio bodio from the many stalls here.
People seen offering garlands and taking the blessings at the Bandra Fair. Mount Mary Church in the back
Also Read: BMC to demolish illegal stalls at Bandra Fair
Where
The fair stretches from the Mount Mary Church all the way down Hill road to Mount Carmel Church in Bandra. The Mumbai corporation also manages the stalls on Rebello Road and John Baptist road.
The Church has been decorated and a bigger and stronger shamiana (metal, instead of bamboo) has been erected to host the activities. Several signs and boards have been placed to ensure the smooth flow of crowd.
The authorities have also made provision for additional BEST buses and routes to facilitate faster and easier transport to Bandra.
Also Read: Here is how locals are looking forward to it & Bandra Fair: all you need to know
