{
  "id": 7160543,
  "title": "Heavy Rain Dampens Opening Day Of Bandra Fair As Stall Owners Fear Losses Amid Poor Visitor Turnout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/heavy-rain-dampens-opening-day-of-bandra-fair-as-stall-owners-fear",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T18:50:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/heavy-rain-dampens-opening-day-of-bandra-fair-as-stall-owners-fear-losses-amid-poor-visitor-turnout"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's annual eight-day Bandra Fair kicked off on a subdued note on Sunday as heavy rainfall throughout the day deterred visitors and impacted sales at the stalls lining the Mount Mary steps leading to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount. An entrance canopy collapsed in the early morning downpour, though no injuries were reported.\n\nThe fair, which marks the end of nine days of religious services at the basilica, saw poor attendance on its inaugural day, leaving stall owners concerned about covering their costs. Irin Polly, who sells Goan sweets from her stall, lamented the lack of crowds, noting that Sundays are typically the busiest. She expressed uncertainty about how long it would take to recoup her investment.\n\nThe basilica management recently shifted from a longstanding system of granting stalls to families who had rented them for generations to a lottery-based allocation. This change has resulted in higher stall costs for vendors. One such vendor, who previously paid between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 for a stall, now pays ₹1.5 lakh. He remains uncertain if he will be able to recover his financial outlay.\n\nThe heavy rain also hampered attendance at a complimentary hair-cutting service offered by celebrity hairstylist Thomson Fernandes at his salon on Chapel Road. By evening, only 10-12 individuals took advantage of the free service. Fernandes had to relocate his kiosk indoors due to the weather and cater to the reduced customer influx.\n\nRupesh Gomes, a member of a family that historically secured stalls at the fair, lamented his inability to obtain a stall this year. He attributed the lower footfall to both the rain and the exorbitant stall fees. Gomes highlighted the importance of Goan sweets as the primary draw for visitors at the fair, and the scarcity of vendors selling these delicacies further exacerbated the situation.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: The annual eight-day Bandra Fair got off to a tepid start on Sunday as heavy rain lashed the city through the day, keeping visitors away and affecting sales at the stalls lining the Mount Mary steps leading to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount. A shamiana at the entrance collapsed in the rain early in the morning, though no casualties were reported. Poor Footfall Worries Stall Owners…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}