The Gunadala Mary Matha Hill and the Bishop Grassi High School premises were packed with devotees on the second day of the Mary Matha Mahotsavams on Friday.
Heavy rush was seen at the bus and railway stations and all the roads leading to Gunadala were busy with pilgrims.
Gunadala, Machavaram and the neighbouring areas wore a festive look and scores of devotees from all over the State attended the utsavams.
In his message, Hyderabad Arch Bishop Tummabala, who attended as chief guest for the festival, said: “God has sent Mother Mary, who gave us a holy person, to protect the mankind. Mary Matha will be with the devotees always,” he said.
Catholic Diocese Bishop Mallavarapu Prakash said Mary Matha was being called by different names at different places and she was the person who first delivered ‘Suvartha'. Later, the bishops, along with Mary Matha Shrine rector M. Chinnappa, Social Service Centre director Muvvala Prasad, chancellor J. John Raju, Fr. Venmpani, and other priests performed the ‘samisti balipuja' at Bishop Grassi High School.
Cultural programmes and devotional songs rendered by troupes attracted the devotees.
