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Updated On: 12 May, 2024 07:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Nasrin Modak Siddiqi
The month-long celebration of the Cross holds more community significance than a religious one. And the decline in participation represents a loss of the city’s social fabric
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Last year’s celebration of the feast at Our Lady of Salvation Church Grounds, Dadar
At Prabhadevi, between D’silva Wadi and D’Abreo Wadi, stands a cross where residents would gather every evening in May, the Month of the Cross and say the Rosary prayers. Once it was over, a family from the wadi would distribute wafers and boiled chana, an economical choice when serving a large number of people. If someone were feeling rich, a box of Frooti or patties would be added to the paper plates.
“On the day of the Feast,” laughs chef Michael Swamy, recalling the fondest memories of growing up in the area, “usually towards the end of the month, we kids would decorate the Cross with candles and garlands made of real flowers. Dinner would be chicken, sorpotel, pulao, and cheap alcohol, ending compulsorily with a yelling match. A huge fight would invariably break out between the D’silvas and D’abreos, who were friendly to each other all month long—we’d wait for it. “No one has the time to come for the rosary. Like people and Frooti, the garlands are fake, too. Neighbours who have known each other so well for over 50 years don’t even pretend they care anymore. We are only social on social media.”
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