The first year in Mumbai during Christmas had me greatly disoriented. It was my first-ever warm Christmas. Yes. Growing up in Shillong, Christmas had always been under freezing conditions there. Post marriage, Delhi was somewhat better but cold nonetheless. And so, 2007’s Christmas, had me asking myself rather amused, “So you don’t need to wear sweaters during Christmas here?”. Haha…
You don’t need warm clothing — That was pretty much the first thing I discovered about Christmas in Mumbai. Over the years, as our enchantment with Mumbai grew, we discovered many more useful and interesting, both, information about Mumbai’s X-mas rituals. And hence, a series of posts on this warm festival in Mumbai.
I start with Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra, Mumbai.
Run up to the Christmas Week in Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra: The sprucing up, special-mass preparations, decorations inside the Basilica, putting up of lights is already underway by now. The Basilica will be open for darshan from 8 am to 1pm and 2pm to 8.30pm on weekdays, and from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm on Sundays.
Christmas Eve 2019 timings @Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra: The Basilica will be open for visit from 8 am to 1pm and 2pm to 8.30pm. Come to see Jesus’s crib depicting the Nativity scene. Carol singing will start from 9.30 pm on 24th Dec 2019 (Tuesday) followed by the Solemn Christmas Mass. The Basilica will close at 12:00 midnight.
Christmas Day 2019 timings @Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra: Mass timings on the 25th Dec 2019 (Wednesday) will be 7.30 am, 8.30 am and 9.30 am. The Basilica will be open for visit whole day. Make sure you light candles on the street outside in front of the cross.
Mass Timings For New Year’s Eve 2019 timings @Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra: There will be midnight mass at the Chruch on the evening of 31st December 2019. Holy Hour will be observed at 10:30 pm, and will be followed by Mass. The Basilica will close at 1am.
Mass Timings For New Year 2020 timings @Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra: On January 1st, 2020 mass will be held at 7.30 am, 8.30 am and 9.30 am at the @Mount Mary’s Basilica in Bandra. There won’t be any evening Mass though.
I spent almost four years living in Bandra and working right next to Mt Mary Steps. Your post brings me back to that wonderful chaos of Christmas in Bombay.
Near Mt.Mary’s Steps!! I envy you Ben. We think that’s the best place in all of Mumbai 🙂 I agree on the chaos part though. Not only Mumbai, all of India is chaotic. Diffiicult for first-time travelers in India. But once you understands the basics of country, it’s not all that bad. On the contrary, it becomes a traveler’s paradise with such diverse architecture, food, language, dressing, terrain. Can drive both photographers and writers crazy…
By the way, they have opened this charming restaurant near Mt Mary’s Steps called Bungalow 9. Read about it here — http://wp.me/p3hwg7-Ga
Sending you new year’s greetings. Have a wonderful 2014!! Thank you for stopping by.
Bungalow 9 was just opening up by the time I left the city. I worked at Bombay Connect (formerly Bombay Hub), a co-working space for artists and entrepreneurs in the Candelar Building across from Mt Mary Steps. If you haven’t visited it, you should — it’s a colorful place filled with wonderful people.
Will surely do!!! Will they allow outsiders?
Definitely. In addition to providing work spaces, they host events, workshops, and open houses. Check out http://bombay-connect.com/ for more information and let them know you want to come visit.
Wonderful. We are in Kolkata currently. Once back home in Mumbai, we will explore Bombay Connect. Thank you for the suggestion.
Regards.