Bangalore: Thousands Throng St. Mary’s Basilica
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Aug 30: Thousands of devotees thronged Shivajinagar to participate in the annual St. Mary’s Feast that began at St. Mary’s Basilica with the traditional flag-hoisting on Friday evening.

The inauguration of St. Mary’s Feast, which goes on for 10 days culminating in a grand procession, was attended by devotees belonging to all faiths.

They had come from different parts of the State as well as neighbouring areas in Tamil Nadu. Among the dignitaries who attended the inaugural function of the fest included Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras.

Fireworks that were part of the festivities lit up the sky for a while, as a sea of humanity, many clad in saffron, descended on the St. Mary’s Basilica.

The St. Mary’s Basilica is in an area earlier known as Bili Akki Palli or Blackpalli, and the church was called as Kaanike Mathe Devalaya or Our Lady of Presentation.

The Mother Mary enshrined in the church is referred as Arogya Mathe or Mother of Health, and the annual feast is celebrated on September 8, the day on which the Roman Catholic Church worldwide rejoices the birth of Mother Mary.

Though the traffic police had made arrangements to ensure smooth flow of traffic, movement of vehicles on main roads adjoining Shivajinagar area that included St. Mark’s Road, Cubbon Road and Central Street moved slowly.

Traffic curbs had been imposed by the police, as parking was not allowed on several roads in Shivajinagar while traffic was also diverted.