The striking Basilica of Mount Mary is famous for the unusual rituals performed here to reinforce the power of prayer. Worshippers place wax icons of body parts before the alter believing that virgin Mary can heal the body part represented. Candle sellers outside the church sell crude wax representations of dentures, legs, nose, feet etc. Wax modles of babies, houses and aepoplanes aid the prayers of the barren, the homeless and the upwardly mobile.

Many of the pilgrims visiting the church are Parsis, Hindus and Muslims. This tradition has continued since the 17th century, when the Portuguese first built a chapel on this site. The current chapel dates back to 1904. The best time to visit the church is during the huge Bandra fair, held here in September.