The 11-day annual festival of Our Lady of Health popularly called “Annai Velankanni Matha tiruvizha” commenced on Saturday with a holy procession and hoisting of a flag at the Velankanni Basilica here.
Most Rev. M. Devadass Ambrose, Bishop of Thanjavur, hoisted the holy flag at the Shrine’s Basilica.
Rev. Fr. A.M.A. Prabakar, Rector of Shrine Basilica, Velankanni, Fr. Yagappa Rajarathinam, procurator, and Fr. S.Arockiasundaram, Assistant Parish Priest, were present. A large number of pilgrims and devotees participated in the first day litany and benediction and holy mass. Holy mass, blessing of the sick with the statue of Our Lady of Health was conducted at the main shrine. High mass in Tamil, Marathi, English, Konkani, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi are conducted in the Basilica from morning till evening all through the festival.
The festival concludes on September 8.
