OF DEVOTION CROWDS & CONTROL

 True to the Indian tradition of venerating their own religious, Mother Mary is the exception and the common thread for all communities across the globe. Cosmopolitan Mumbai is no exception.....Her birthday celebrations have spanned 17 days this year and as usual she has attracted people by the thousands year after year.

The church and civic authorities  have had to work in close proximity to ensure that this period passes off as smoothly as possible thereby ensuring safety and acceptable inconvenience to the neighbourhood as all roads in Bandra lead to the Mount

Captured below are some memories of what we felt captured the mood and flavour and charged emotions of this feast

When all roads lead to 'Mount Mary Church'

           

      Wax offering stalls start more than 1/2 km away, await devotees       Barricading the road ensures human & vehicular control, Police are ever vigilant

                 

The last 3 days witness thousand of devotees, highly patient and resilient, their main objective to meet their heavenly mother

Dharshan devotees surge ahead

                                         

          

                          Even darkness cannot shake this faith as darshan crowds continue late into the evening as per Basilica & Police guidelines 

    Octave weekend & Crowds, some in their sunday best are ready for darshan      Devotee movement happens via various gates as a coordinated exercise

         

        Pilgrims contained by barricades are now guided to enter via gate no. 2    Clearly visible here are 2 batches which will be allowed inside appropriately

         

.......moving on with ones own thoughts

            

                                            Finally entering the Basilica through the nave, the sanctuary from the northern side or the main entrance

HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN YOU SPOT IN THIS SECTION? Parents seek 'Our Lady's blessings for their little ones

                  A view of the nave filled with pilgrims & devotees..an extremely tiring job for the ushers who manage to keep this crowd moving well

With offerings, a prayer on their lips and mobile phones clicking away, devotees move forward for that fleeting glimpse of 'Our Lady'

Reviewing the situation

           

                                     The  oratory and road cross are a vital part of a visit to the mount which helps complete ones devotion

              

            

              

             

 "BE WITH US MARY ALONG THE WAY... GUIDE EVERY STEP WE TAKE..."