Bandra Fair: Every year, Mumbai gathers to celebrate the Mount Mary Festival or Bandra Fair to pay homage to Mother Mary (mother of Jesus Christ) who was born on September 8. This year, the festivities which began on Sunday will go on till September 21.
The fair is around the Mount Mary Church, also called the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, located in Bandra. With people of various faiths attending the fair, the event has become an essential part of Mumbai’s cultural fabric over the years. The church is expecting over 1,500 devotees at each mass.
What are traffic diversions around Bandra’s Mount Mary Church?
Mount Mary Road: Completely shut for vehicles, except residents with official passes and emergency services. Kane Road: Vehicles will only be allowed to move one-way from Mount Mary Road toward B.J.
Road; entry from B.J. Road is blocked unless you have a local pass. Pereira Road: Restricted to one-way traffic, moving east to west; no entry from B.J. Road. St. John Baptista Road: Only accessible for pass holders, closed otherwise. Carmel Church Junction (Chapel Road to Veronika Road): No right turn allowed for vehicles.
No parking or stopping vehicles here
Mount Mary Road, Kane Road, Pereira Road, Chapel Road, St. John Baptista Road, St. Sebastian Road, Mount Carmel Road, Rebello Road, Hill Road (between St. Paul’s Road and Mehboob Studio Junction), Dr. Peter Dias Road, St. Paul Road, according to Mid-Day.
How to reach Bandra’s Mount Mary Church?
By train: It is the easiest way to commute. Take a Western Railway (WR) local train to Bandra station. From there, get a shared auto (around Rs 30) or a direct auto to Mount Mary Church. Ola or Uber cab is an option, but the fare will be slightly higher owing to traffic.
By Metro: You can take Mumbai Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Aarey Colony) and get off at Bandra. From there, you can take an auto or cab.
By bus: Taking into account the high number of people, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has decided to run 374 additional buses. According to the special transport plan announced by the BEST administration, the number of passengers will increase significantly during the Yatra. Therefore, special buses will be deployed on routes 321-Mary, A-202, A-375, A-422, A-473, C-71 and C-505. These buses will provide regular services and will be available from morning till night. These bus services will run between Bandra Station (West) and Hill Road Park, News18 Lokmat reported.
No bus will go directly to Mount Mary Church. All bus services will terminate at Hill Road Park and from there, devotees will have to walk to the church. This decision has been taken to avoid narrow lanes and potential traffic congestion.
Tips while travelling
Use public transport
Travel during non-peak hours.
Bandra’s Mount Mary Fair: The Key Attractions
Food stalls, street shopping, lit-up streets. Also, Bandra is the centre point to many scenic spots in Mumbai. So you can add a few to make your visit more interesting.
