Mumbai, September 10: The Mount Mary Fair also called the Bandra Fair, a week-long carnival has started. The Carnival is celebrated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount. It is a 100-year-old Roman Catholic Church of Mount Mary. The fair goes on for a week. It starts after the Sunday on September 8 every year. And this year, the authorities are planning to spend a message of environmental sustainability. It is going to be a festive atmosphere in the city as starting September 13, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi will also begin.

September 8 is believed to be the birth date of Mother Mary. So a week starting after that a fair is organised. There are shopping stalls, food and sweets stalls, amusement rides, games and street events organised for the fair. The area takes a look of a carnival-like atmosphere. A lot of devotees come in and around the city to visit the church, offer prayers and then be a part of the fair celebrations. It may be primarily a celebration of the Christian community but over the years people of all faiths come together an be a part of the fair.

The authorities are taking special precautions to avoid plastic usage and wastage, making it an eco-friendly celebration. The shop sellers have been told to avoid selling plastic and thermocol offerings. Bishop John Rodrigues, rector of Mount Mary Basilica was quoted to a report in DNA, "We have a small composting plant in the premises, but it can't be used to compost a huge bulk of flowers which is offered during the week-long fair. From the next year, we might be able to recycle the flowers. An NGO has shown interest in taking away the flowers for recycling." So all the flowers that are offered in the church will be internally taken care of.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).