The quaint Bandra of yesteryears may have lost its old-world ‘Bombay charm’ but even to this day it holds on to its timeless appeal. The last 10 days of December is when the Queen of Suburbs transforms into the queen of hearts for scores of people teeming in and around the majestic Mount Mary Church.
It’s a night when the Queen of Suburbs becomes the queen of hearts, dazzling in all her fairytale lights, finery and glory on the Christmas Eve. From Hill Road and Chapel Road to the quintessential Mount Mary Church, every nook and corner of Bandra warms up the very pleasant winters of Mumbai. As someone who always clings on to the cozy nostalgic memories of this golden suburb of the erstwhile Bombay before it was taken over by the sleekness of commercialization, the imagery of the last 10 days of December is simply magical.
While the quaint suburb has certainly lost its old-world charm, even to this day it still holds on to its timeless appeal that makes it so special compared to the other suburbs of the city. There’s something so exhilarating about the sight of the sea of humanity dotted with red and white Santa caps bustling in and out of the Mount Mary basilica… scores of people strolling up and down the hillock with a faint nip in the coastal air… the razzle-dazzle of lights and merrymaking everywhere…
And how can one forget to mention the merriment of the native Catholics residing in the ancestral villas (a disappearing heritage in today’s times). People of all ages dressing up in their best for the Midnight Mass, cheering kids running helter skelter, young lads roaring in revelry, romancing couples coaxing each other in the unnoticed spots of the lively alleys… With food, wine and merrymaking around, you can feel the New Year is almost in the air!
