With religious fervour, the 435th annual feast festival of Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica commenced with flag-hoisting amidst a huge gathering of worshippers on Wednesday .
Scores of worshippers from various places congregated at the Shrine Basilica in Thoothukudi and offered prayers. Ahead of the ceremony, a large number of worshippers had gathered to witness the inception of the 11-day festival.
After the blessings were offered by Rev. Fr. Yvon Ambroise, Bishop of Thoothukudi Roman Catholic Diocese, during a special mass at 7.30 a.m., the flag was carried in a procession led by the Bishop, followed by Rector and Parish Priest of the Basilica, Fr. Lerin Derose, Vicar General Rev.Fr. Kirubakaran and other priests marched to the site opposite the Basilica and hoisted the flag.
A band played music during the procession ahead of the flag-hoisting. At the flagpole, the priests released a flock of doves, symbolising the significance of peace.
The Virgin Mary was decked with a golden crown by Fr. Sahayaraj Rayan at noon and it was continued by the mass, sources said. Cutting across religious barriers, people, who thronged the festival, chanted “Mariyae Vaazhga,”.
The worshippers offered pots of milk, buttermilk and fruits. A series of prayer services were conducted throughout the day. The festival will culminate on August 5, the feast day, with special prayers.
The district administration made elaborate security arrangements in the vicinity of Basilica. Security has been strengthened with the deployment of adequate police personnel.
The Beach road was closed for traffic for about 30 minutes around 8 a.m. owing to a huge gathering of worshippers and traffic was diverted, sources said.