Bangalore: CM, K J George among lacs of devotees at St Mary's Fest
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Sep 9: The St Mary’s birthday festival, which is popular among Konkani Catholics from the coastal region as Monthi Fest, was celebrated with devotion and even pomp with lacs of devotees thronging the St Mary’s Basilica at Shivajinagar.
The nine-day novena of prayers and devotion in honour of Mother Mary, which is being celebrated in all parishes with those having substantial number of Konkani Catholics from the coastal region having special services in their mother tongue, culminated at the St Mary’s Basilica with a traditional car festival which was flagged off by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah after a special blessing of the chariot by Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras.
Karnataka’s Home Minister K J George, who also happens to be a Catholic, former minister and Shivajinagar MLA Roshan Baig, Congress MLA N A Harris and local BBMP corporators were among the dignitaries apart from a large number of priests, sisters and devotees from different parts of the city, who thronged at the St Mary’s Basilica.
An unique feature of the nine-day novena and special prayers of devotion to St Mary at the Shivajinagar basilica is the participation of the devotees, both men and women and even children wearing saffron clothes to seek the blessings of Mother Mary.
The novena prayers and devotion to Mother Mary concluded with a solemn concelebrated high mass with the Archbishop and priests of the Bangalore Archdiocease praying over the devotees for joy and peace in the world.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his speech, noted that people from varied faiths come in numbers to this St Mary’s basilica irrespective of their caste or creed to venerate and pray to our Lady of Good Health.
He also asked the devotees to pray for good rains, harvest and welfare of people filled with serenity and peace.
Siddaramaiah assured the people that the State Government would protect the interests of people of all faiths and all walks of life.
It was a virtual sea of humanity around the St Mary’s basilica with lacs of devotees present to witness and participate in the chariot procession with the blessed statue of the Virgin clad in a green saree, which was placed in a colourfully decorated chariot 35 ft high and decked with flowers.
The car festival started its journey out of the church on Sunday evening and the car procession was taken into the streets of Shivajinagar, stretching a little over 4 kms, in which lacs of devotees venerated by offering prayer and flowers, after which it enters the church and the festivity concludes with a Eucharistic adoration and lowering of the flag.
Fondly known as the Morning Star, the Blessed Virgin Mary is a figure of intercession for millions who sought her help.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements and traffic bandobast around the entire route of the procession besides even banning the sale of liquor around the basilica as part of the security measures.