Home / Lifestyle / Culture / Photos / IN PHOTOS | Bandra Fair 2026: Check dates, significance, timings, uniqueness, and travel tips

IN PHOTOS | Bandra Fair 2026: Check dates, significance, timings, uniqueness, and travel tips

Updated On: 13 September, 2026 02:17 PM IST | Nascimento Pinto

Mumbaikars and devotees from all over India are on the way for their annual pilgrimage to Mount Mary's Basilica in Bandra this September. While the Novenas have begun to mark and celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, the celebrations follow with the iconic Bandra Fair that sees lakhs of people visit every year, and here's all you need to know about it for this year

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The Bandra Fair is a part of the extended celebrations of the Nativity of Our Lady in the suburb. Photos Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto
The Bandra Fair is a part of the extended celebrations of the Nativity of Our Lady in the suburb. Photos Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto
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Dates of Bandra FairEven though the celebrations are held every year, there is often a confusion about when the fair starts in the Queen of Suburbs around Mount Mary's Basilica. Every year, the Bandra Fair takes place on the first Sunday after September 8 because it is celebrated as Nativity of Our Lady, popularly known as the birthday of Mother Mary.Last year, it was held from September 14 to 21. This year, it will be held from September 13, Sunday, to September 20, Sunday, and will take place across all days around Mount Mary's Basilica, and near Mount Carmel Church too
Dates of Bandra FairEven though the celebrations are held every year, there is often a confusion about when the fair starts in the Queen of Suburbs around Mount Mary's Basilica. Every year, the Bandra Fair takes place on the first Sunday after September 8 because it is celebrated as Nativity of Our Lady, popularly known as the birthday of Mother Mary.Last year, it was held from September 14 to 21. This year, it will be held from September 13, Sunday, to September 20, Sunday, and will take place across all days around Mount Mary's Basilica, and near Mount Carmel Church too
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Timings of Bandra FairThe Novenas are being held from September 4 to September 12 this year, and the feast will be celebrated on September 13, marking the start of the Bandra Fair for 2026. While devotees are already making their way to the church from today, the Novena and vernacular and feast mass timings and complete schedule are as follows: Weekdays for NovenaMornings5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, and 9:30 am.Evenings5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.Sunday, September 6 and Tuesday, September 8 Mornings: 5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 amEvenings: 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:30 p.m.Feast Day MassesSunday, September 135:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, and 10:30 am.Feast Mass is at 11:30 am, and Last Mass is at 12:30 pm.Octave Week (Sunday, September 13 to Sunday, September 20)No Evening MassesMonday, September 14 to Saturday September 196:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am.No Evening MassesOctave Sunday (Sunday, September 20)5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, and 10.30 am.The Feast Mass is at 11:30 am, and Last Mass is at 12.30 pm.Schedule of Vernacular MassesMass in Hindi on Sunday, September 6 at 5:30 pmMass in Konkani on Sunday, September 13 at 10:30 amMass in Konkani on Tuesday, September 15 at 11:30 amMass in Marathi on Wednesday, September 16 at 11:30 am.Mass in Tamil on Thursday, September 17 at 11:30 am.Mass in Malayalam on Friday, September 18 at 11:30 amMass in Gujarati on Saturday September 19 at 11:30 am.Mass in Marathi on Sunday, September 20 at 10:30 am.
Timings of Bandra FairThe Novenas are being held from September 4 to September 12 this year, and the feast will be celebrated on September 13, marking the start of the Bandra Fair for 2026. While devotees are already making their way to the church from today, the Novena and vernacular and feast mass timings and complete schedule are as follows: Weekdays for NovenaMornings5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, and 9:30 am.Evenings5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.Sunday, September 6 and Tuesday, September 8 Mornings: 5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 amEvenings: 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:30 p.m.Feast Day MassesSunday, September 135:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, and 10:30 am.Feast Mass is at 11:30 am, and Last Mass is at 12:30 pm.Octave Week (Sunday, September 13 to Sunday, September 20)No Evening MassesMonday, September 14 to Saturday September 196:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am.No Evening MassesOctave Sunday (Sunday, September 20)5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, and 10.30 am.The Feast Mass is at 11:30 am, and Last Mass is at 12.30 pm.Schedule of Vernacular MassesMass in Hindi on Sunday, September 6 at 5:30 pmMass in Konkani on Sunday, September 13 at 10:30 amMass in Konkani on Tuesday, September 15 at 11:30 amMass in Marathi on Wednesday, September 16 at 11:30 am.Mass in Tamil on Thursday, September 17 at 11:30 am.Mass in Malayalam on Friday, September 18 at 11:30 amMass in Gujarati on Saturday September 19 at 11:30 am.Mass in Marathi on Sunday, September 20 at 10:30 am.
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Significance of Bandra FairThe iconic Bandra Fair is believed to have started around 300 years ago, according to a popular legend, after a statue of Mother Mary was found floating somewhere between 1700 and 1760 in the Arabian Sea by a Koli Christian fisherman. It was after he already had a dream about it earlier. The locals believed it was a miracle, and that led to the start of the Bandra Fair to celebrate the event every year since then. Unfortunately, the Fair was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While visiting the church and the fair, visitors are advised to dress modestly keeping religious sentiments in mind
Significance of Bandra FairThe iconic Bandra Fair is believed to have started around 300 years ago, according to a popular legend, after a statue of Mother Mary was found floating somewhere between 1700 and 1760 in the Arabian Sea by a Koli Christian fisherman. It was after he already had a dream about it earlier. The locals believed it was a miracle, and that led to the start of the Bandra Fair to celebrate the event every year since then. Unfortunately, the Fair was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While visiting the church and the fair, visitors are advised to dress modestly keeping religious sentiments in mind 
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Uniqueness of Bandra Fair The Bandra Fair is very unique for many reasons that starts with devotees attending the masses, and spending the day around Mount Mary's Basilica soaking in the festivities. Among the many unique elements, the Bandra Fair is known for its food and music. There are many different kinds of food stalls include delicious items such as the kala chana (black gram) and petha that are synonymous with it, but the beauty of the Bandra Fair is also the opportunity for people to enjoy local East Indian, Koli and Goan delicacies. Some of the highlights are delicious dishes such as choris pao (Goan sausages stuffed in pav), Kerala's Calicut Halwa, kala channa (black gram) and the popular kadio bodios (sweet sticks)
Uniqueness of Bandra Fair The Bandra Fair is very unique for many reasons that starts with devotees attending the masses, and spending the day around Mount Mary's Basilica soaking in the festivities. Among the many unique elements, the Bandra Fair is known for its food and music. There are many different kinds of food stalls include delicious items such as the kala chana (black gram) and petha that are synonymous with it, but the beauty of the Bandra Fair is also the opportunity for people to enjoy local East Indian, Koli and Goan delicacies. Some of the highlights are delicious dishes such as choris pao (Goan sausages stuffed in pav), Kerala's Calicut Halwa, kala channa (black gram) and the popular kadio bodios (sweet sticks)
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Travel tipsThe Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is located in Bandra West in Mumbai. The easiest way to travel is by public transport, as private transport may often mean that you have park far away, and walk up to Mount Mary Church, and the steps. However, taking the 214 bus to Mount Mary Steps is ideal or taking an auto-rickshaw from the railway station will provide enough comfort during your journey.If you are coming from the airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminal 1, popularly called as Santacruz Airport, and Terminal 2, also known as Andheri airport, are not too far away, and the church in itself is a landmark. If you plan to travel by train, take the Western or Harbour line train to Bandra. If you are travelling from the Central Line, get down at Dadar and take the train to Bandra to reach your destination. You can also take the Aqua Line Metro to Santacruz metro station, walk about 10 minutes to the railway station and take a train to Bandra railway station.Additionally, BEST will operate a total of 236 additional buses throughout the week. The additional services will run between Bandra Railway Station (West) and Hill Road Garden, from where devotees will have to walk the remaining distance to the church. The ideal time to visit Bandra Fair is between 10 am to 6 pm, if you want to avoid the crowd, and do not forget to carry a cap and umbrella to avoid the sun and rain.
Travel tipsThe Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is located in Bandra West in Mumbai. The easiest way to travel is by public transport, as private transport may often mean that you have park far away, and walk up to Mount Mary Church, and the steps. However, taking the 214 bus to Mount Mary Steps is ideal or taking an auto-rickshaw from the railway station will provide enough comfort during your journey.If you are coming from the airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminal 1, popularly called as Santacruz Airport, and Terminal 2, also known as Andheri airport, are not too far away, and the church in itself is a landmark. If you plan to travel by train, take the Western or Harbour line train to Bandra. If you are travelling from the Central Line, get down at Dadar and take the train to Bandra to reach your destination. You can also take the Aqua Line Metro to Santacruz metro station, walk about 10 minutes to the railway station and take a train to Bandra railway station.Additionally, BEST will operate a total of 236 additional buses throughout the week. The additional services will run between Bandra Railway Station (West) and Hill Road Garden, from where devotees will have to walk the remaining distance to the church. The ideal time to visit Bandra Fair is between 10 am to 6 pm, if you want to avoid the crowd, and do not forget to carry a cap and umbrella to avoid the sun and rain. 

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