When one enters the Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba, you can feel the Christmas cheer but more than that it has a different kind of aura. It is because the church is adorned with interiors that will simply grasp your attention almost immediately. Right from the ceiling to the walls – every aspect makes you stand in awe of the architecture. Look a little further at the altar and the depiction on the stained glass is even striking as sunlight passes through it during different times of the day. While the church has stained glass windows, this one particularly depicts the Nativity of Jesus in three panels. It also happens to be one of the few churches in the city to do so. With hues of red, blue, green and yellow, it is breathtaking to say the least.

Joynel Fernandes, who is the assistant director at the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum in the Goregaon seminary, explains, “People get interested when they step into the church with stained glass because the moment you come in you have that natural light come in through the coloured glass, and the way it creates the ambiance – not only a devotee but any lay person would be enchanted by the aura.”