Many throng Mary Matha Shrine

Devotees fulfil their vow by offering coconuts and getting their heads tonsured

Devotees going up the hill to reach the Mary Matha Shrine at Gunadala in Vijayawada on Sunday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Hundreds of devotees thronged the Gunadala Mary Matha Shrine here on Sunday. The devotees began pouring in from early hours to attend the second day celebrations of the Mary Matha Festival. Serpentine queues were seen to have darshan of Mother Mary.

The shrine and the Bishop Grasi High School were decorated for the festival.

Devotees were seen chanting the names of Mary Matha and Jesus and fulfilling their vows by offering coconuts and getting their heads tonsured on the church premises.

The priests performed ‘samisti divya balipuja’ in the morning and evening and explained the devotees the powers of Jesus Christ. The devotees performed ‘divya prasada aradhanas’ and ‘swastata prardhanas’ at Bishop Grasi High School grounds.

The Mary Matha fest attracts devotees from across the southern States. People from far-flung areas throng the place in droves to seek the blessings of Mother Mary, the presiding deity of the Gunadala hill.

The devotees feel that they would be relieved of troubles if they pray to Mother Mary. Some lakhs of pilgrims from all over the State and some foreigners would attend the three-day event.

Chinautupalli Regional Superior N. Francis participated in the celebrations as chief guest.

Bishop Joji, Mary Matha Shrine Rector M. Chinnappa, Social Service Centre Director M. Prasad, Chancellor Father J. Johnraj and others conducted the special mass.

Songs in praise of Christ, a burra katha on a Biblical theme, spiritual discourses, and dramas performed by groups of devotees from different places marked the celebrations, which continued through the night.