Churches of Bandra

Bandra was the original Portuguese outpost for Bombay. It was "Lands End" on the peninsula that is now Mumbai. All of Mumbai that is south of here was originally islands, that slowly got in-filled and consolidated into one peninsula.

As a result of its Portuguese heritage, this part of Mumbai has the most concentrated collection of Christian churches in India. Most are Roman Catholic, but there are a number of Anglican churches from the British era, as well.

Mt. Mary Church (officially, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount). This structure dates back to the early 1900's, but it's been a worship site since the 1570's. I loved the typical Indian stalls in front of the church where you could buy all sorts of worship accessories from rosaries and candles to flowers and statues.

Across the street from the church is a shrine to St. Mary. Worshippers lay lit tapers horizontally on this grill rather than light conventional votive candles.

Just down the street from Mt. Mary Church is an Anglican church, St. Stephen's.

St. Stephen's Church

At the end of Bandstand Promenade is another old Catholic church, St. Andrew's. It is entirely surrounded by a large cemetery and columbarium. The graves are so close together that you have to walk across them to get to the church.

St. Andrew's Church

More of St. Andrew's cemetery and columbarium. Many of the graves have five or six bodies buried under one slab.

Even Christian graves are decorated in a typical Indian fashion with plenty of marigolds.

A bit further up a narrow lane from St. Andrew's, we came across a roadside shrine to St. Mary. The Hindu influence is apparent in the marigolds and pictures along the sides.

Roadside shrines/temples/mosques are common throughout India.
Many times, they actually stick out into the travel lanes of the roads.

And finally, although it's not a church, it definitely has religious roots:

Further up the street, just past Joggers' Park is this booth that is obviously Muslim.
I presume it has to do with the name of the street.