By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Bandra, Feb 10, 2026: A sound and light permanent exhibition helps pray the five mysteries at Mount Mary Basilica in Mumbai’s Bandra, pilgrims say.

The 50-minute “Pranam Maria” (Hail Mary) presents the scenes of the Rosary’s 20 decades, said Pauline Sister Vimala Savarimuthu after a visit to the exhibition in early February.

The reflections help the visitor contemplate on the Rosary in a pindrop silence at the exhibition center, she told Matters India.

Inaugurated in August 2025, the exhibition is the third of its kind in India – the first is in Varanasi, northern India, and the second at Old Goa, in the west.

The exhibition begins with the story of creation, prelude to the reflections on the Rosary. Here one meditates on the Rosary from Annunciation to the Queenship of our Mother Mary, Sister Savarimuthu explained.

The exhibition also has the seven Sacraments in wall paintings.

The visitor emerges from the exhibition reflecting on Christ’s command, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News,” the nun said.

“I really felt the responsibility of being a missionary of God’s message,” she added.

The basilica’s current rector Father Vernon Augiar said Monsignor Nereus Rodrigues, who was the rector during 1995-2016, came up with the concept of the exhibition. He was helped by his assistant Father Aniceto Pereira.

Monsignor Rodrigues “wanted to help the pilgrims know Jesus, Son of Mary. It is basically the life of Jesus. Thus. the story of Jesus is given in 20 mysteries of the Rosary,” said Father Pereira, who wrote the script with the help of some theologians.

“It was difficult to maintain moving statues. So, we went for life size statues by sculptors. We also needed a new building with 20 rooms to accommodate the statues,” the priest said.

According to him, the construction of the building, statue making and other preparations took place side by side. “It took about 16 years to complete the work.”

Father Pereira, a former director of the Diocesan Liturgical Centre in the basilica premises, said they wanted to present the entire program within an hour, “as visitors do not have much time to spare. We have achieved it.”

Sister Salome Kipounamai, another Pauline nun who has served in the liturgical center, said she had visited the exhibition several times in its initial stages. Monsignor Rodrigues wanted to give the pilgrims “a deeper experience of the life of Jesus and Mary,” she recalled.

According to her, each visit opens up the Gospel anew for prayer and meditation — familiar, yet always revealing fresh insights and quiet inspiration specific to the moment.

People from all walks of life and religious backgrounds now visit the basilica, and many experience healing in their lives. “We are not able to reach out to all people through our sharing. Hence, Monsignor Rodrigues wanted something that is permanent for the pilgrims to learn and draw inspiration from,” she told Matters India.

After setting up the exhibition, the monsignor invited youth, children, adults, priests and religious for their feedback before it was opened to the public, she explained.

The monsignor also asked the public to fix a fee for the visitors to help more people to benefit from this exhibition, she added.

At first, the visitor was given a mobile and earphone to visit the exhibition. “As it was found unhealthy, the commentary is now given on the speaker,” she added.

According to her the impact of the exhibition depends “largely on the inner disposition of the visitor –the openness with which one enters the creation story and contemplates the mysteries of the Rosary, which are, the saving events in Christ’s life.”