Feast Of Mount Mary
Posted on June 11, 2008 in Festivals by Chris
Mother Mary is considered to be the greatest of all saints according to catholic faith. It is believed that Mother Mary did not die but instead was physically taken into heaven, something which happened to no living being.
One of the greatest feasts celebrated in honor of Mother Mary is the “Mount Mary Feast “ held at Bandra,( Mumbai).
Celebrated on the Sunday following September 8th, which is celebrated as the birthday of Mother Mary, the feast of Mount Mary is a weeklong affair.
It is during this week that several pilgrims irrespective of cast, creed, religion and color come to visit Mother Mary’s shrine, which is located on a hilltop over looking the Arabian Sea.
This feast also known, as the Bandra Fair is been very popular since the 17th century. The shrine is a very miraculous place of worship.
Mother Mary is believed to be very close to Jesus, and the faithful believe that Lord Jesus never refuses any request from his mother. During this entire week the pilgrims greatly devout themselves to the Holy Rosary-a prayer requesting the intercession of Mother Mary.
The shrine has a very interesting legend, a fisherman one day saw a vision of Mother Mary’s statue lying in the sea, and when he went fishing he actually saw a statue. A shrine was then constructed in bandra by some Jesuit priests from Portugal, in which this statue was placedbut later on some Arab pirates came over and cut the hand of this statue. The statue of Our Lady Of Navigators later replaced this statue.
Since then lot of miracles have taken place at this shrine. Faithful devotees are greatly blessed.The place around the shrine bustles with activity during the entire week of the feast. Pilgrims flock the place in thousands, holy statues and oils are sold in large stocks. Sweets and various forms of savory pleasures are sold to the weary pilgrims.
If you happen to be in Mumbai during the month of September do not miss this feast and fair.
» Filed Under Festivals