Braving Mumbai rains, devotees make merry at Mount Mary fair

This year, the organisers also executed a new crowd management system, in which devotees could walk in a single file to the altar

Rains failed to damped the spirit of around 12,000 devotees, who visited Mount Mary Basilica from across the city on Sunday for the mass on the last day of the 10-day fair.

Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra all lit up on the last day of the fair on Sunday. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT)

“Though it was raining, everything went well, thanks to the efforts put in by traffic police and the support staff,” said Fr Michael Govias, vice-rector, basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra.

This year, the organisers executed a new crowd management system, in which devotees could walk in a single file to the altar. Though, it was carried out on trial basis initially, they continued with the arrangement, which Govias said was well received by devotees.

Janice Pereira, a resident of Mahim, made it to the church with her elderly mother and waited in the premises for quite long because it was raining. She said since it was the last day of the feast (marking the birthday of Mother Mary), she wanted to come to the church. “The biggest shrine is in Tamil Nadu, but not everyone can make it there. So, the next place people visit is this,” said Pereira.

Though the fair and festivity comes to an end, the residents who have been complaining about the inconvenience they underwent due to the hawkers may have to face problem for one more day. Govias, who had personally gone asking the hawkers to not put any stall before the festivity begins, said if the stalls are still there till Tuesday, he will ask the police to take action against them. “We understand that the residents around have been complaining, but these stalls maybe there for a day, and we can’t really do much about it. But, if they are still there on Tuesday, we will ask the police to clear them up,” said Govias.