The “Moti Mauli” story is probably the most fascinating part of Bandra Fair, because it connects the Portuguese-era shrine, the Koli fishing community, the sea, and local folklore.
The legend of the statue found in the sea
There is an important distinction here: there are two related statues and two layers of history, which is why different accounts of the story can seem contradictory.
The original Mount Mary shrine was established by Jesuits around 1570, with a wooden statue of Mary brought from Portugal. By 1640, the small oratory had become a chapel because of increasing devotion.
Then the story becomes more complicated.
According to local tradition, during the period of conflict between the Portuguese and Marathas, the statue associated with the shrine was lost/thrown into the sea. A Koli fisherman subsequently had a dream that a statue of the Virgin Mary would be found in the sea.
The next day, Koli fishermen reportedly found a statue floating in the water.
A historical Jesuit source is important here: a 1669 Jesuit annual letter contains an account of Kolis finding a Marian statue in the sea. So although the miraculous interpretation is a matter of faith and tradition, the story itself has an old documentary trail.
Why the Kolis are so important
The Kolis were the traditional fishing community of coastal Bombay, including Bandra.
For them, the sea wasn’t simply a geographical feature—it was central to livelihood and everyday life. Therefore, a story of a sacred image emerging from the sea and being recovered by fishermen had particular significance.
The recovered image became associated with the local Koli Christian/East Indian community and acquired an affectionate local name:
Moti Mauli / Mot Mauli
The name is variously explained as “Pearl Mother” or “Mother of the Mount.”
There is some linguistic uncertainty about the exact derivation of Mot, but Mauli is a Marathi-Konkani word associated with mother. Sources also connect Mot with monte, the Portuguese/Indo-Portuguese word for mountain or mount.
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