The devotion to Our Lady of the Mount is a devotion which is common to a vast concourse of all castes and creeds, who throng the Basilica with their votive offering and supplications during the festival every September. And this year is no different. Lakhs have thronged the Basilica since the last three days and continue to do so each day.

People from all parts of Mumbai and also outside Mumbai leave their homes early morning to attend mass service and then frolic in the fair down the steps of the hill. What makes this devotion so popular is the testimony of thousands of devotees who have received great favors in answer to their prayers and offerings.

The road from Mehboob studio up the hill leading to the church are lined with stalls selling candles, toys, fancy t – shirts, halwa to pickles of all varieties, black channa, to Goan, Kerala, Mangalorean delicacies and sweetmeats. There are also stalls selling religious items, a few blaring Marathi and Konkani songs and some stalls where one can try their luck at a game of skill.

Carmel Mela towards the end of the road of the fair has been rechristened to its original name September Garden. This name change was more due to the fact that the permissions for holding the ‘mela’ was not forthcoming from the authorities due to the term ‘Mela’. In a way it is a good thing its changed it for there have been many people who are happy to have the original name back. This place is an entertainment hub of the Bandra Fair that sees close to 5000 people at any given time. In aid of the St. Aloysius Night School, families and friends gather in for a dose of authentic local cuisine, while the latest chartbusters are played giving it a carnival atmosphere. The number of people are sure to increase as the countdown to the end of the fair. We expect a turnout of about 7,000 to 8,000 people from Friday onwards.

However the traffic situation is a problem as the sea link brings in a lot of traffic towards the fair. Earlier the road was totally blocked during the fair days, but now with the sea link and connecting roads, traffic causes a little problem to the devotees who throng the fair.

Albert D’souza better known as Aloo sound who began his sound system career with the September Garden way back in the 80s, is back at the September Garden this year after a 10 year sabbatical. Very excited to be back he says. “For the last few years due to other commitments I couldn’t play here, but this time I made sure I made it. The crowd enjoys the recorded music we play. We get a lot of young boys and girls who come to the ground and wriggle to our music. Music is one of the major attractions at the garden.” He states while reminiscing about the days when he was part of the setup for the Jam sessions and fashions shows held at the school hall during the Bandra Fair.”We used to have amazing disco nights years ago with no deadline for playing music. Nowadays the party stops at 10 pm which is very sad” he avers.

On that note a few devotees however lamented on the increased commercialization of the fair. Many are very nostalgic about the fair. Some have fond memories when as a kid, parents used to buy soap bubbles and pipe balloons that would emit a loud noise. But now you don’t find them, as they have been banned. There was a time then, when one used to walk down the hill to the smell or pork sorpotel and vindaloo right till Chapel road. Now you get the smell of bhaijas, pav bhaji, vada pav and misal pav and you are reminded that you are in some other fair and not the Bandra Fair.

Text and Photos By Verus Ferreira