Caral Mirana’s Story – A Family’s Devotion at the Mount Mary Fair!
Every September, when the Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra is draped in lights and the streets fill with the sound of hymns, Caral Mirana, now in her 40s, comes alive with a sense of purpose. For her, the Mount Mary Fair isn’t just another festival - it’s a family tradition, a devotion, and a celebration of togetherness.
Caral is a housewife for most of the year, but during these nine sacred days, she becomes the heartbeat of their stall. Along with her husband and extended family, she sets up the little wooden shop that has been part of the fair for decades. Her elder son, an engineering student, returns home to help. Her younger one, just eight years old, runs around excitedly, handing out toffees to customers, beaming with pride that he too is part of something so special. For Caral, the fair is less about profit and more about belonging. She often says, “This stall isn’t our business, it’s our offering. It’s our way of saying we are part of Mount Mary.”
While others see the struggles — rising stall rents, online lotteries that replaced old traditions, endless crowds, traffic jams, and noise - Caral sees something different.
Unlike many others who sell sweets, snacks, or toys, Caral sells only candles made of wax an offering deeply tied to faith and devotion. Her stall glows with every kind of candle you can imagine.
For the devotees who flock to the Basilica, each candle carries a meaning. A wax home may symbolise the dream of owning a house. A wax family sculpture is offered as a prayer for unity. Tapers and votives light up weddings, prayers, and dinners. For some, it’s ritual; for others, it’s a way of carrying home a blessing but for her she truly offers is faith, love, and family spirit.
As the crowds leave and the fair winds down, Caral sits with her children outside the Basilica, tired but glowing. For her, it’s never been about how much they earn. It’s about keeping alive a tradition, showing her children where they belong, and reminding herself every year that faith is strongest when it’s lived together as a family.
The Tribal Box
Caral Mirana’s Story – A Family’s Devotion at the Mount Mary Fair!
Every September, when the Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra is draped in lights and the streets fill with the sound of hymns, Caral Mirana, now in her 40s, comes alive with a sense of purpose. For her, the Mount Mary Fair isn’t just another festival - it’s a family tradition, a devotion, and a celebration of togetherness.
Caral is a housewife for most of the year, but during these nine sacred days, she becomes the heartbeat of their stall. Along with her husband and extended family, she sets up the little wooden shop that has been part of the fair for decades. Her elder son, an engineering student, returns home to help. Her younger one, just eight years old, runs around excitedly, handing out toffees to customers, beaming with pride that he too is part of something so special.
For Caral, the fair is less about profit and more about belonging. She often says, “This stall isn’t our business, it’s our offering. It’s our way of saying we are part of Mount Mary.”
While others see the struggles — rising stall rents, online lotteries that replaced old traditions, endless crowds, traffic jams, and noise - Caral sees something different.
Unlike many others who sell sweets, snacks, or toys, Caral sells only candles made of wax an offering deeply tied to faith and devotion. Her stall glows with every kind of candle you can imagine.
For the devotees who flock to the Basilica, each candle carries a meaning. A wax home may symbolise the dream of owning a house. A wax family sculpture is offered as a prayer for unity. Tapers and votives light up weddings, prayers, and dinners. For some, it’s ritual; for others, it’s a way of carrying home a blessing but for her she truly offers is faith, love, and family spirit.
As the crowds leave and the fair winds down, Caral sits with her children outside the Basilica, tired but glowing. For her, it’s never been about how much they earn. It’s about keeping alive a tradition, showing her children where they belong, and reminding herself every year that faith is strongest when it’s lived together as a family.
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