The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Mumbai, India

In 1570, a Jesuit priest built a simple mud oratory on a hillock at Lands End in the fishing village of Bandra, overlooking the Arabian Sea. Inside he placed a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, brought from Portugal, that the local Koli fisherfolk would come to call Mot Maoli—the Pearl Mother. The humble chapel would survive pirate raids, Maratha invasions, and colonial upheavals to become one of India's most beloved Marian shrines. Today the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount stands where that oratory once rose, its semi-Gothic towers visible across the Mumbai skyline. Each September, hundreds of thousands gather for the Bandra Fair, a seventeen-day celebration that transforms the neighborhood into a carnival of faith, drawing pilgrims of every religion who light candles and offer wax figures shaped like houses, babies, and healed limbs—tangible prayers to the Mother who, they believe, still grants miracles on this hill above the sea.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The origins of Mount Mary trace to the arrival of Portuguese missionaries in the sixteenth century. Jesuit fathers established their headquarters at Santa Ana Church in Bandra around 1570 and soon constructed a small oratory of mud on a nearby hillock for private devotion. They brought from Portugal a wooden statue depicting Mary as the Mother of God—the image that would become the focus of centuries of pilgrimage. Legend mingles with history in the story of this statue. Koli Christian fishermen tell of one among them who dreamed he saw the image floating in the Arabian Sea. The next morning, according to accounts preserved in a 1669 Jesuit letter and later published in St. Andrew's Church, Bandra (1616–1966), the statue was indeed found adrift in the waters. Whether miraculous discovery or pious legend, the story cemented the bond between the fishing community and their Mot Maoli. The shrine faced its first major crisis around 1700 when Arab pirates from Muscat raided Bandra seeking treasure. Finding none in the chapel, they vented their frustration on the statue, hacking off Mary's right hand—thinking, perhaps, it was gilded. The desecrated image was hidden by the faithful. In 1738, during the Maratha invasion, the church was destroyed entirely. When the community rebuilt in 1761, they restored the original statue to the altar, fitting a small detachable figure of the Christ Child where Mary's severed hand had been. This same statue—scarred by violence, restored by devotion—remains on the altar today. The present semi-Gothic basilica rose between 1902 and 1904, replacing earlier structures. Its four-story façade, nearly 65 feet broad, features the emblem "A.M." (Ave Maria) crowned and flanked by lilies above the main door. Inside, the nave stretches 67 feet long and 38 feet broad, rising to a 42-foot teakwood ceiling capped with Mangalore tiles. Fiberglass murals along the walls depict scenes from Mary's life, while eight Corinthian pillars of Malad stone support the structure. Papal recognition elevated the church's status in the twentieth century. On December 5, 1954, Pope Pius XII granted the title of Minor Basilica and authorized the crowning of the statue with gold crowns—a ceremony performed that same day. Pope Paul VI visited during the 1964 International Eucharistic Congress in Bombay, and Pope John Paul II came in 1986. In 2016, Pope Francis declared the main doors of Mount Mary and the Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba as "Holy Doors of Mercy" for the Jubilee Year. The devotion at Mount Mary transcends religious boundaries in ways uncommon even in India's syncretic landscape. Hindus, Muslims, and Christians alike climb the hill seeking the Pearl Mother's intercession. The faithful bring wax figures representing their petitions—a leg for healing, a house for shelter, a baby for fertility—and light candles whose shapes mirror their desires. This practice of mannat (votive offerings) has continued for centuries, connecting contemporary pilgrims to generations of supplicants who trusted their hopes to this hilltop shrine.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Mumbai

Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount

Mount Mary Basilica Rising 80 meters above sea level on a hillock in Bandra West, this semi-Gothic basilica commands sweeping views of the Arabian Sea. The imposing façade, completed in 1904, features twin towers, Gothic arches, and the crowned "A.M." emblem of Ave Maria. Within the Sanctum Sanctorum, the sixteenth-century wooden statue of Mary holding the Christ Child stands atop a seven-story marble staircase—the same image brought from Portugal by Jesuit missionaries and later damaged by Muscat pirates. The nave's teakwood ceiling soars 42 feet overhead, while murals on the interior walls trace the life of the Virgin. Visitors approach through lanes lined with stalls selling candles, flowers, and the distinctive wax votives that pilgrims offer as prayers. Address Mount Mary Road, Near Shanti Avedna Sadan, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050 GPS 19.058611, 72.830278 Map Google Maps Web mountmarybasilicabandra.in

Cathedral of the Holy Name

The seat of the Archbishop of Bombay rises in Colaba, its Gothic Revival spires a legacy of British architect W.A. Chambers. Construction began in 1897 and concluded in 1905, though consecration as a cathedral waited until 1964 when the Archdiocese of Bombay was elevated from a diocese. The interior showcases stained glass windows imported from Munich and carved wooden furnishings that evoke European cathedrals. In 2016, Pope Francis designated its main doors as Holy Doors of Mercy alongside those of Mount Mary Basilica. The cathedral was declared a heritage building in 1998. Address Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400001 GPS 18.921944, 72.826389 Map Google Maps Web holyname-cathedral.com

St. Michael's Church, Mahim

The original church at Mahim dates to 1534, making it among the oldest in Mumbai. Portuguese Captain António do Porto built the first structure on land granted by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. The current building, reconstructed in 1973, continues a tradition that predates British rule. St. Michael's is renowned for its Wednesday Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, a devotion inaugurated in 1948 that now draws 40,000 to 50,000 devotees weekly. Thirteen services are held each Wednesday in English, Hindi, Konkani, and Marathi to accommodate the crowds. Address Lady Jamshedji Road, Mahim West, Mumbai 400016 GPS 19.039722, 72.840833 Map Google Maps Web stmichaelsmahim.com

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Bandra Fair — First Sunday after September 8

The Bandra Fair, also called the Mount Mary Fair, celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a seventeen-day festival that transforms the streets surrounding the basilica. The celebration begins with a nine-day novena from September 5 to 13, during which Masses are offered in English, Hindi, Konkani, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Gujarati—morning services at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 AM, with evening Masses at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 PM. The octave proper runs from the Sunday after September 8 through the following Sunday. On the feast day, typically the first Sunday after September 8, a Pontifical Mass is celebrated at 11:30 AM following morning Masses from 5:30 AM. The fair itself fills the lanes leading to the basilica with some 150 to 400 stalls selling devotional articles—rosaries, saint statues, photo frames, cross pendants, and the distinctive wax figures that pilgrims offer as prayers. Food stalls serve the famous sugar-coated kadio badios alongside homemade cakes, fudge, and chikkis. Ferris wheels and games create a carnival atmosphere. The tradition stretches back over three centuries, rooted in gratitude for Mary's protection during times of plague and invasion. Fancy bullock carts once carried devotees up the hill; today auto-rickshaws and buses ferry hundreds of thousands—Hindus, Muslims, and Christians alike—who come seeking the Pearl Mother's blessings.

Wednesday Novenas at St. Michael's, Mahim — Weekly

Every Wednesday, St. Michael's Church holds its famous Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, a devotion that began in 1948 and has grown to accommodate 40,000 to 50,000 participants weekly. Thirteen services run throughout the day in multiple languages, making it one of the largest regular devotions in India.

🏨 Where to Stay

Taj Lands End ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Luxury seafront property in Bandra with views of the Arabian Sea and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, less than 2 km from Mount Mary Basilica. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel The Leela Mumbai ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Near the international airport with ornate interiors inspired by the Lotus Temple, convenient for travelers arriving by air. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Trident Bandra Kurla ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Contemporary business hotel in the Bandra Kurla Complex with easy access to Bandra's pilgrimage sites. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel ITC Maratha ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Palatial property near the airport featuring Maratha architectural influences and award-winning restaurants. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport serves Mumbai with connections worldwide. The international terminal is approximately 12 km from Mount Mary Basilica; the domestic terminal is about 8 km closer. By Train: Bandra Railway Station on the Western Line is the nearest station to Mount Mary Basilica, approximately 2.5 km away. Mumbai's extensive suburban rail network connects Bandra to all parts of the city, with trains arriving every few minutes during peak hours. From Bandra Station, auto-rickshaws are readily available. By Bus: BEST bus routes 211 and 214 serve the Mount Mary area. Route 214 drops passengers at the foot of Mount Mary steps. By Road: From South Mumbai, take the Western Express Highway or the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to reach Bandra West. The basilica is located near Band Stand, accessible via Mount Mary Road.

📚 Further Reading

Online Resources: Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount — Official website of Mount Mary Basilica with architecture details, history, and Mass timings. (Mount Mary Basilica) Archdiocese of Bombay — Official website of the Archdiocese with parish directory and Catholic news. (Archdiocese of Bombay)

🔗 Useful Links

Mount Mary Basilica — Official website with history, architecture, Mass timings, and feast day information. Archdiocese of Bombay — Archdiocesan website with parish directory, news, and pilgrim resources. Maharashtra Tourism — State tourism board with travel planning resources for pilgrims.

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Old Goa (600 km) — The former Portuguese colonial capital houses the Basilica of Bom Jesus with the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier, alongside the Sé Cathedral and numerous historic churches from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Velankanni (1,300 km) — The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health on the Tamil Nadu coast draws millions annually, often called the "Lourdes of the East" for its reported healings.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, you always listen to us, for you are the Mother of Mercy."

— Pope Francis, Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2020