Serpentine queues were seen on Gunadala Mary Matha Hill to have darshan of Mother Mary on the third day of Mary Matha Mahotsavams in Vijayawada on Saturday.
The shrine and the Bishop Grasi High School were decorated for the festival. The devotees were seen chanting the names of Mary Matha and Jesus and offering vows by breaking coconuts and getting tonsured on the temple premises.
Secondary Education Minister Kolusu Parthasarathi visited Mary Matha Church and offered prayers along with the priests and devotees. New Delhi Bishop Fraco, along with Vijayawada Catholic Diocese Bishop Mallavarapu Prakash, Bishop John Thomas, and Mary Matha shrine rector M. Chinnappa, performed holy mass.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prakash said that devotees who pray Mother Mary would be relieved of troubles. Some lakhs of pilgrims from all over the State and some foreigners attended the three-day event and had darsan of Mother Mary, said the bishop.
The priests performed ‘samisti divya balipuja' at morning and evening and explained the devotees the powers of Jesus Christ. The devotees performed ‘divya stprasada aradhanas' and ‘swastata prardhanas' at Bishop Grasi High School grounds.
Yuvata Mandali of Vellaturu performed ‘kolatam', while cultural troupes presented ‘gnana sundari' burrakatha, ‘magdala mariya' play, ‘jesu barabbas' play was performed by Br. Joseph Tambi Natyamandali and ‘Karunamayi' play by Sri Karunamayi Natyamandali, Kanchikacherla.
The police made elaborate bandobust arrangements for the three-day Gunadala Mary Matha Utsavams. Traffic restrictions/diversions were imposed for the convenience of the pilgrims. The Revenue, Municipal Corporation and Police department officials made arrangements for the smooth conduct of the utsavams. The balloon and toy sellers, fast food centres and the push cart vendors arranged stalls on either side of the road. The APSRTC operated special buses for the devotees.
