Was forced to walk down the steps of the Mount after Feast Day Mass, so took the opportunity of recording in pictures the many colorful sights of the Bandra Fair. (Felt like I was in a Mira Nair film!) Enjoy:
Walking down the Steps:
Lots of religious stuff to buy, check out first stall with Nun selling:
Sweets anyone?
Typical Mac “Aunty” selling sweets:
Sample of Sweet Stall Names:
Other things on Sale,
toys for kids (see really cool spidey I wanted 
):
Bangles galore (every color imaginable!):
Plenty of different foodstuffs, icecreams & sodas:
bhelpuri & garam garam other stuff:
and plenty of cheap clothes:
Two things I always bought as a kid included, the keychains with your name imprinted:
and bubbles!! (totally loved these!):
Did you call me Havaldar??? I was sooo tempted to! The cops were everywhere, doing a good job too:
And finally the rides & games, for kids & roadside romeos alike:
Here’s to you enjoying the fair, be it in person or through happy memories! May the child in each one of us live on!
… And God willing, let these crowds go home real soon.
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September 11th, 2005 at 3:57 pm
Hi Melody,
Thanks for the pictures. Very thoughtful of you.
Even though I am one of those who don’t like to visit the fair anymore, I enjoyed looking at them.
Pixie
September 11th, 2005 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for the pictures; I remember the fair from the days when I used to live in Bandra. It was quite an affair. I am sure you are having fun.
September 11th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
Hey Melo,
A Very Happy Feast to you!!! How u doing? Thanx soo much for the snaps! I have not been for the fair (or India) for the last 3 years … and to really felt good to see the sights again! much appreciated!
September 11th, 2005 at 11:32 pm
DEAR MELODY, THANKS FOR THE BANDRA-FAIR PHOTOS. MEMORIES, AS YOU SAY , WHICH ARE VERY ENJOYABLE.ERIKA
September 11th, 2005 at 11:33 pm
Thanks for the pictures Melody. Looks like a great time.
I’m unfamiliar with the Bandra Fair. Does it coincide with a special feast day? How did it begin?
Andy
September 12th, 2005 at 7:15 am
Hi hon wazzup? bin a while! yup me missn bandra & the feast… do keep in touch. ciao!
September 12th, 2005 at 11:15 am
Thanks for the pics and a happy feast to u.
September 12th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
thanks for the pics, Melody.. Felt a bit nostalgic looking at them…
Hopefully, someday I shall make it to the Mount again for the feast, with my family!!
Love,
Christine
September 12th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Hi Melody
This is Prasanth from Pune.
Enjoyed your artistic Talent.. Keep it Up.. The quotations are so cool.
Till then, Luv and Prayers
Prasanth
September 12th, 2005 at 1:40 pm
Hi Melo,
Truly wonderful.
I have not been to the fair as yet, even though we stay in it!!
But I love the photos and the cute captions !!
Keep it up.
God bless,
Ryan.
September 12th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
Hey mello..
good coverage…i see that u are in love with the goans…great spirit..I totally agree with ur last line…
else how r things and what r upto these days…(keep it short)
warm regards
Ivo
September 12th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Hey there Melody.. real cool pics.
We have a pro in the midst of us I think.
Take care
Kel
September 12th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Loved the piece.
Enjoyed the pictures.
Love,
Joseph
September 13th, 2005 at 6:12 pm
V.nice, gud to see Fair pix cuz its really missd… thanks a lot!!!
September 15th, 2005 at 6:16 pm
Beautiful pictures…..nicely taken….
September 16th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
Praise the Lord Sis !!
Great pictures !!
God bless
Shal
September 17th, 2005 at 7:50 pm
Hi Melody,
I felt happy seeing the fair photos. I suggest you click photos that show shrine, and the liturgical services, and above all pilgrims tohonour Mother Mary.
Thanks and regards,
Vicky
September 18th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
Hi
I love Bandra feast, because it also falls on my Daddy’s birthday,and
when we were kids we all use to go together for our Lady’s feast and it
was so much fun. That we really miss every year.
Wilma
September 18th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
Hi Melody. Happy Feast. I am from Bandra, presently in Dubai. I am missing the Bandra Feast terribaly as this is the first time I am away from Bandra. I was searching Google for some related sites and I found yours. Your photographs have really brought tears to my eyes as I am missing all the fun so very much. Thanks
September 18th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
Enjoyable pics
September 18th, 2005 at 11:57 pm
Dear Mel, sometimes u do come up with with some sensible ideas and r very thoughtful.
Tks for the pics I”ve missed the fair for yrs… I shed a few nostalgic tears .
Needed a few close ups of the Bibique to finish the job ( I bet I spelt it wrong ).
Love!
September 19th, 2005 at 9:45 am
All devotion vanishes after seeing these pictures. They represent the
worst side of the fair. How come there aren’t any pictures of the
Mount Mary Church and the statue?
September 19th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
Glad you all liked the pics! Am blown away by your responses - especially for all the “thank yous” & the tears shed!!! Amazing!!
Andy, check out this link for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.....%2C_Bandra
Vicky, thx for your suggestion, may do so another time, God willing. Just took these pics on the spur of the moment (on being force to walk through the fair)… had no fixed plan to cover the “event”.
Alex Aiyar, don’t let your devotion be so easily swayed!! Though I don’t particularly like the fair either, lots of people do & we have no right to judge them! My take - if you don’t like it, don’t go!!
September 20th, 2005 at 8:25 pm
Thanks so much, wonderful pics bring back memories….
September 20th, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Hey, a really nice trip down memory lane!!!!!!
September 22nd, 2005 at 5:33 am
Hi Melody,
It has been many moons since I made the Bandra Fair, we had a gala time while growing up and this brings back a lot of memories. keep up the good work and all the best!
Flavian D’Mello
September 22nd, 2005 at 5:58 pm
It’s been ages since I have been to the Bandra fair. Felt nostagic for the old good times. Keep up the good work, hope to make it to the feast with the whole family.
September 23rd, 2005 at 6:35 am
Thanks for the photos, they brought back a lot of memories. I left Bandra in 1966 and have not been able to be home during the feast. I am glad to see that the sweet and toy stalls are still there. What about St.Peter’s “Wig-Wan” and do they still have the daily whist drives.It was so much fun. I use to live in Ranwar and all friends and relatives called at our place after visiting the Mount and the Fair.
Thanks once again
Gemma
September 23rd, 2005 at 10:45 am
It has been many years since i have been to the fair, but it still gives me a great feeling,to read and see the photos of our once great bandra fair.
Keep up the good work guys all our prayers are with whosoever organises the fair.
September 23rd, 2005 at 11:09 am
Gemma: The “Wig Wam” (that’s the name I remember?) closed down many years ago. They used to have that place along with the “September Gardens” (later changed to the “Carmel Mela” which is still on).
The reason for closing it down is that the crowds got very rowdy and I believe injured some security people etc. Besides, both the Churches felt that the goal (i.e. promoting unity & fellowship) was not being achieved, rather it was the opposite - encouragement to people drinking alcohol, fighting, over exposure (at the Pricess/Queen competitions) etc etc. So all that’s been stopped a long time now.
October 7th, 2005 at 10:52 am
Some great pictures, I was there too, here’s my post on the same.
October 7th, 2005 at 11:50 am
I have the eye of a photographer (so thinks me anyway) though & see pictures in many obscure things..
October 7th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
Melody,
You’ve definitely got a great eye for photography. You should put some serious thought into buying a camera.
December 21st, 2005 at 4:49 pm
hey, nice pics and some really good content on your page.
take care,
Roshan
May 18th, 2006 at 10:44 am
woooo….i have spent 13 yrs of my life in Bandra and dont even have a single pic of the fair.
+ moi skool Mount Mary Convent…
got sooo nostalgic seeing these pics…
if u have any pics of the Church(Mt.Mary)…or St. Andrews School pls send them to me @ektakaur@gmail…
May 18th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
@ Roshan: Thx a lot!
@ Mehak: Glad you liked. Don’t have any pics as of now, but am planning on doing something soon as part of another venture online, so will let you know.
May 20th, 2006 at 10:22 am
Damn I was looking for a pic of u on the little scooter going round and round with the roadside romeo’s = now that would make for interesting blog pics what say
???
LOL
Noojes
May 20th, 2006 at 11:15 am
May 22nd, 2006 at 12:23 pm
yeah pls pls pls let me know…@ektakaur@gmail.com
September 9th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Thanks so much for the pictures - really miss the fair and the crowds now…
September 9th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
September 12th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Oh man, u almost brought tears to my eyes.
Have been abroad for 4 years and have always thought of and remembered the Fair, coz every year of my life i had been to the Fair with my parents as well as my friends.
Thanks for posting up the pics, its great to show my friends here how the fair looks like(used to always tell them about it, but had no pics).
September 12th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
September 14th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Hey do you know anyplace where I could meet new bandraites. My apartment sucks Dont have many people to make friends with. They dont even celebrate 15th of August. By the way I am in Bandra. Hey the pics are cool. I was looking for myself in the giant wheel. Think you missed taking my snap. Bad girl j/k
September 14th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Am not sure how you would go about making friends in Bandra sorry. Perhaps you join a gym or a library?
If I think of anything, will keep you posted.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:26 am
hi, thnks for pics, i was in Fr.Agnel School, so i visited the fair every only this year i did not attended because i am not in india. Anyways thnks for making me remember the time i enjoyed in bandra fair with my frnds.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pm
November 6th, 2006 at 6:42 am
I now live in Canada with my family. The last time I visited the
Bandara fair was in 1989! So thanks for jogging my memory.
I lived on Veronica Road (stil do) and had a wonderful time during the Bandra
Fair days!
Thanks again
November 15th, 2006 at 8:53 am
Its amazing how u realise the importance of ur place when ur away..bandras so special..m now in melbourne..do u know of n e other websites where i can get pics of bandra,,lemme know
ur wrk is much appreciated..
thnx
Yadnesh
January 8th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
@ Yadnesh: Yes, agree with you… distance does make the heart grow fonder! Will point out to more links as and when I find em.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Hi,
great pix indeed’. Been in Australia for the past 19 years and it really brought back a lot of memories. The best one was that in one of your pix I could see my year 5 classroom when I was in St. Aloysius.
Regardz and God Bless
Alfred