R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala
Additional Pics by Shilpa Digitals, Karkala

Karkala, Jan 29: The five-day annual feast at the historic St Lawrence pilgrimage centre witnessed innumerable devotees from India and abroad arriving and getting blessed, irrespective of religion, groups, languages and social status.

Begging was banned in the premises of the church on the days of the festival. Those who wanted to donate money to the beggars could put their money in three large boxes kept in the premises for the purpose.

The weak, sick, physically challenged, the old and the ascetics were found waiting in long lines in front of the shrine since the morning on Friday Januart 29 for alms.

A whopping Rs 10,84,000 was collected this year. The amount was divided into three groups - Wholly physically challenged and the old were handed over Rs 1,000 each, partially physically challenged were given Rs 500 each, ordinary beggars were given Rs 300 each, besides packets of ghee rice to all of them.

The distribution of alms started at 12 noon. The volunteers distributing the money kept a keen eye, distributing only food packets to the child beggars. There were also instances of beggars pretending to be blind in a bid to receive more than their share.

The annual festival committee has said that nearly 14 lac devotees arrived at the pilgrim center during the five days of the festival. Out of them 30% were Catholics and others belonging to different religions. The celebrations went on smoothly without any untoward incident.