Devotees to revive pilgrims' progess

As the Mount Mary festival moves closer to end, a group of people looking to revive old East Indian culture will carry out a procession from St. Michael's Church, Mahim to the Basilica of Mount Mary. It is believed that in old times devotees had taken the same route.

The Mount Mary festival which started on September 11, will end on Sunday. FPJ had reported about a pilgrimage of Amboli Church parishioners undertaking a pilgrimage to the Basilica before the start of the festival.

"It is believed that Mother Mary's statue was carried from St. Michael's to the Basilica in the old times during the festival. The tradition was discontinued some time back. We are now looking to revive that. Back then, the statue would be taken on a Rekla - a horse cart - as that was the mode of transport available then. We are trying to recreate the same this time too," said Alphi D'Souza, maha sarpanch of Mobai Gaothan Panchayat, a body that looks to revive East Indian tradition and uplift the community.

The procession that will start at 8 am on Saturday morning, besides a wooden statue of Mother Mary, will be led by confraternity, a band playing East Indian hymns and music. Over 100 people will be attired in East Indian costume. Respects will be paid at St. Michael's Church and then at St. Peter's Church. At Mount Mary, the procession will offer prayers and disburse.

"There are different legends about the Basilica of Mount Mary and the statue of Mother Mary. There is a story of fishermen finding Mother Mary's statue but that is related to the St. Andrews Church. Back in the day, people from different churches organised pilgrimages to Mount Mary," said Fr. Nigel Barret, spokesperson of Archdiocese of Bombay.