Bandra Fair 2010 Mount Mary

Bandra Fair 2010

I was eagerly waiting or Bandra Fair 2010 to start, as its one of the days i really think back on my good old kiddy days!!!

This year Bandra Fair was from Sunday 12th September till Sunday 19th September 2010 late night.

I tried my level best to go on the first day, cause that’s the most important day….. But i couldn’t make it.

It was not possible for me to go during the weekdays!!

So finally my fiancee and myself decided to go on the last day i.e. Sunday 19th September 2010 and we made it.

I must say it was the first time, that there was less crowd during the fest.

But it was FUN!!!

Related post for last years Bandra Fair 2009 Mount Mary have a look and enjoy!!!

Bandra Fair 2009 – Mount Mary

mount mary church

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary, is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Mumbai, India.

The church is one of the most visited churches in the city located in the suburb of Bandra. Every September, the feast of St. Mary is celebrated on the Sunday following 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. This is a week long celebration known as the Bandra Fair and is visited by thousands of people.

The church stands on a hillock about 80 metres above sea level overlooking the Arabian Sea. It draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims annually. Many faithful attest to the miraculous powers of St. Mary.

During the Bandra Fair, tens of thousands visit the shrine. The shrine attracts people from all faiths who pray to the statue for thanksgiving or requesting of favors.

In 1760, the church was rebuilt and the statue was substituted with a statue of Our Lady of Navigators in St. Andrew’s church nearby.

This statue has an interesting legend. It goes that a Koli fisherman dreamt that he would find a statue in the sea. The statue was found floating in the sea between 1700 and 1760. A Jesuit Annual Letter dated to 1669 and published in the book St. Andrew’s Church, Bandra (1616–1966) supports this claim.

The Bandra Fair 2009

This is the most awaited event of the year is come up. Popularly known as the Bandra Fair, the festival is celebrated on Mother Mary’s birth anniversary and people of all faiths throng to seek her blessing.

The streets take on a carnival-like atmosphere, with shops and mini-bazaars offering everything from food (yummy), shopping opportunities (@ good prices) and joyrides (super enjoyment).

Street plays, musical concerts, book readings and food festivals also become a part of the celebrations.

2009 : This year the fair starts from 13th Sunday 2009 to 20th Sunday 2009, Its basically for one week.

Also check my new post for: Bandra Fair 2010 Mount Mary.

Mangalore – Simply The Best

Mangalore - Nariyals(Coconuts)

Mangalore (pronounced maengalor ; Tulu: Kudla, Kannada: Mangaluru; Konkani: Kodial, Beary: Maikala) is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bounded by the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, Mangalore is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada (formerly South Canara) district in southwestern Karnataka.

Mangalore derives its name from the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi. It developed as a port on the Arabian Sea – remaining, to this day, a major port of India. Lying on the backwaters of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers, Mangalore is often used as a staging point for sea traffic along the Malabar Coast. The city has a tropical climate and lies on the path of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-West monsoons. Mangalore’s port handles 75% of India’s coffee exports and the bulk of the nation’s cashew exports.

How to go to Mangalore?

By plane:

Mangalore International Airport , at Bajpe, about 20 km from the city centre. Currently there are daily flights to Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kochi and Calicut in the domestic segment and weekly/bi-weekly flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar), Kuwait and Bahrain in the international segment.

Filghts: Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, and Air India Express currently operate flights to Mangalore.

By train:

Mangalore has two big railway stations.

• Mangalore Central (IR station code : MAQ) is located at Hampankatta, in the heart of the city. It is a terminus and is used only by the trains which terminate at Mangalore.
• Mangalore Junction (IR station code : MAJN) is situated in Kankanady, about 5 km from the city centre. Most long-distance trains and all trains not terminating at Mangalore stop at this station.

I prefer the Private BUS ‘s or the Train cause you can enjoy the Konkan Greenary and Lots more!!

How to get around in Mangalore?

By bus

There are numerous private bus companies which run bus services within the city of Mangalore and its suburbs. Public and Private Bus’s. The minimum bus fare is Rs. 3.25 .  In addition city bus service, there is limited stop (usually called express) .

By cab

White Ambassador Cabs / Indicas are available – usually used by passengers on long-haul routes.  Prepaid cabs are available from the airport to the city – this is generally at a flat rate of Rs. 350-400.

By Autorickshaws

They are available all throughout Mangalore City – starting fare is Rs.13. Pre-paid autos were available from the City Railway Station and the KSRTC bus stand at Bejai, but not any more.

I prefer the CELL ONE private pre-paid cabs. They are much more reasonable and the drivers are very friendly!!

Yummy Ice Creams !!!!

Ideals ice cream parlour

Ice creams - banana split, Gadbad, tiramisu

Ideals @ Hampankatta. There are three parlours (2 ideals, proximity located 200 metres of one another. One is located near the Milgres junction and the other one is near the next junction heading towards the market) 3rd one Pabba’s, at Lalbagh diagonally facing Saibeen Complex . Ideals is marked as one of the best ice cream in DK, when you are in mangalore this is a must try place. You have to try out “GADBAD” ice cream which is only available in Ideals and the best of all ice creams. Gadbad icecream is an old favorite which has dry fruits and fresh ones chopped up with nuts, layered with icecream (strawberry and vanilla) and topped off with Jello. Hot favorites are “CHOCOLATE DAD” and “TIRAMISU“.

If your one of the HIGH SPIRITS then !!!

The Liquid Lounge (Balmatta Road – the general youth hangout!) : Good music, good ambiance, good beer!

Lets be on the Safer Side!!

Three things will do more to prevent an upset stomach or other traveling aliments than anything else:

1. Always choose water from filters (Aquaguard water) or bottled mineral water, just to be on the safe side.
2. Carrying water free hand sanitizer is a must (Germ-X, Purell, etc.) Go ahead and eat with your hands like everyone else! Once you use your hand sanitizer your hands are cleaner than the silverware that was washed with water you don’t want to drink.
3. Always choose foods that are steaming hot. Food is often prepared ahead of time so you want to see it cooked or see the steam coming of the food.

Best Churches !!!

St Lwarence Shurch

St Lwarence statue

St Lwarence - mass timings

St Lwarence Church - Address and Website

• St. Lawrence Church (A place of Miracle)
  Karkal-Attur,
  Attur North P.O. – 576 117
  Karkala Taluk, Udupi District
• St. Aloysious, Milagris

In Brief:

• Mangalore is a port city and the headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district in the coastal region of Karnataka State in India.
• Mangalore is the gateway to Karnataka.
• It is one of the five talukas (other than Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady taluks) of the Dakshina Kannada District. This District formerly had 8 talukas, but these were split in August 1997 and the remaining talukas, namely Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala then formed a part of the Udupi district,but there is no division found in the living of two cities.

Mangalore is named after the Goddess Mangaladevi. Other names used by the locals are ‘Mangalooru’ (Kannada), ‘Kudla’ (Tulu), ‘Kodial’ (Konkani), ‘Mikala’ (Beary) and ‘Mangalapuram (Malayalam),’Manjarun'(sanskrith).