Before Bandra Fair gets over today, must-try food items around Mount Mary’s Basilica

The Bandra Fair takes place every year from the first Sunday after September 8, the day celebrated as the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for eight days. Like every year, lakhs of people will visit the fair to pray and revel in the festivities, especially because they haven’t been able to do it freely in the last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While there are different kinds of activities for entertainment, it is the food that is found at the fair that people enjoy a lot. Here are some of them you should definitely know about

Updated On: 2024-09-15 10:48 AM IST

Compiled by : Nascimento Pinto

The dry fruit halwa is one of the popular food items found at Bandra fair every year. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

If you are at Bandra Fair and are going to be spending time through the day, then make sure to take a bag of black chana, also known as black roasted gram, with you to munch on throughout the day. It is not only tasty but also cheap because it is sold for as low as Rs 50. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day 

Seen in many different colours at the fair, the halwa is delicious and sells like hot cakes on all days. If you are at the fair, it is a must to get your share of halwa for your home. One can simply ask the seller to cut a piece or two to taste before you buy it, and the sweetness that lingers on your tongue throughout the day will tell you why you should go back to buy it. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

Catholics in the city don’t need any prodding to get their annual share of kadio bodios from Bandra. However, for those who wonder why there’s always a rush at the stalls selling the finger-sized sticks, then it's time to taste them because they are not only sweet but also peppery and pungent. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

The sticks, which are also locally called khaje, are made of chickpea flour (besan), jaggery and ginger and are sold every year at the fair by people who have been coming there for decades. They are available in three varieties – light brown, orange and sugar-coated too. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day 

Choris Pao is another favourite that is found at the fair and is a preparation that is usually made by the Goan community with spicy-sour pork sausages sourced from the state. The delicious speciality is served in between pao. If you love pork or Goan food, this is definitely a must try when go to the fair during this week. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

The stalls selling the choris pao will also most likely have a helping of sorpotel, another Goan delicacy, which is a spicy goan pork preparation. While this may be one to take home, you can also enjoy any kind of chicken rolls, sandwiches or pattice that are being sold at stalls on the steps leading up to the church. The rolls are stuffed with a spicy-sweet chicken preparation that is stuffed in between the pillowy soft bread rolls and is definitely a must try. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

Last but not the least, petha is another popular sweet found at the Bandra fair every year. If you haven’t got the chance to eat it in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this is your chance to get your quota to enjoy over the next few days. Popularly known to be from north India, they are made from ash gourd and sugar and is bound to be a favourite for anybody with a sweet tooth. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

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