Celebrating Mother Mary’s birth anniversary

A carnival-like atmosphere prevailed at the Arogya Matha Church in Khairatabad on the annual feast of Our Lady of Health on Tuesday. The feast commemorates the birth of Mother Mary and is celebrated by people of all faiths besides the Christian community.

“The celebrations began with the cake cutting by Fr G Sunder, the parish priest, after the mass that started at 4 am. Devotees from various communities thronged the church in large numbers to venerate at the feet of the statue of Mother Mary which is over 110 years old,” said Fr V Shekar, assistant parish priest of the church.

While some thanked the Lady for the favours received, others petitioned with an offering of candles, silver articles, coconuts and flowers as a mark of gratitude.

The organisers of the holy event claimed that devotees throng this church not only from various parts of the State, but also from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka as it is the only church in Telangana where the birthday of Mother Mary is celebrated.

Later in the evening, the idol of Mother Mary clutching infant Jesus in her hand was taken out on a procession through the streets of AC Guards. Residents of the locality stood on rooftops and on the pavements to catch a glimpse of the idol. The festivities which began with hoisting of the traditional flag on August 29, will draw to a close with its lowering on Wednesday after the 6:30 am mass, marking the finale to the grand, ten day celebration.

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