Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount
Mount Mary, Bandra, Mumbai, Maharashtra
About This Shrine
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount — popularly called Mount Mary Church — is one of Mumbai's most iconic landmarks, situated atop a hill in Bandra, overlooking the Arabian Sea. Built in 1640 by Portuguese Jesuits, the church is a Minor Basilica and a major pilgrimage site renowned for its annual September fair (Bandra Fair), which draws hundreds of thousands of devotees of all religions.
History
The original church was built in 1640 by the Jesuits. It was destroyed by Dutch pirates in 1739 and rebuilt in 1761. The present neo-Gothic structure was completed in 1904. Pope John XXIII elevated it to the status of a Minor Basilica in 1961. The statue of Our Lady of the Mount, venerated inside, is a beloved symbol of Bandra's Catholic heritage.
Miracles & Significance
Devotees purchase wax effigies representing the parts of the body they wish to be healed and offer them to Our Lady. The tradition of wax offerings is central to the Mount Mary festival and underscores the belief in miraculous healing through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
Pilgrimage Guide
The annual Bandra Fair (Mount Mary Festival) is held in September during a 9-day novena following the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8). The fair is one of the largest in Mumbai and draws people of all faiths. Bandra is well connected by the Western Railway line and by road from all parts of Mumbai.