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BANGALORE: All roads led to Shivajinagar on Monday as thousands of saffron-clad devotees flocked to St Mary’s Basilica for prayers.As every year, a festive atmosphere enveloped Shivajinagar and the streets leading to it as lakhs gathered at the St. Mary’s Basilica here on monday to celebrate the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were there from morning to attend mass, which was held every 30 minutes through the day.

Two high concelebrated masses in Kannada and Tamil were celebrated by Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras at the Shivajinagar, Russell market square in the presence of thousands of devotees.

The Vicar Generals, Chancellor, Procurators, Secretaries, Rectors, Administrators and other Hierarchy and councils members of the Archdiocese of Bangalore were the other concelebrants at the Holy Eucharistic celebrations in the St Mary’s Basilica Church at Shivajinagar,

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister K J George, Information and Haj Minister RoshanBaig as well as the local MLA N A Harris and BBMP Corporators attended the public function at the St Mary’s Basilica at Shivajinagar in the evening, when the Archbishop blessed the decorated Chariot.Thousands of devotees of Our Lady of Good Health witnessed the wonders and participated in the procession with the decorated car of mother Mary statue.

The feast concluded with a final blessing through an adoration of Blessed Sacrament on the mega stage at Russell market square by Archbishop Bernard Moras.

The roads were jam-packed in the evening when the chariot-borne St Mary’s idol was carried in a procession, marking the culmination of the 11-day feast. People patiently stood on the terrace of nearby buildings, including Shivajinagar bus stand, to see the illuminated chariot decked up with bright flowers and garlands. Braving rain and wind, men, women and children, clad in the penitential saffron dresses, marched over a km towards the renowned shrine to petition the holy mother, honoured as the Lady of Good Health.

On Central Street, a section of youths distributed badam milk to devotees to spread the message of peace and harmony. A music band regaled devotees by singing St Mary’s songs in different languages before moving on to movie numbers.

 Traffic jams:

 Police sources said close to 600 personnel, including those manning the traffic and monitoring law and order, were deployed in the area. They said they expected close to four lakh people to turn up for the celebrations. Like every year, the large turnout paralysed traffic in this part of the city.

About St Mary’s Basilica Church Shivajinagar Bangalore:

Welcome to the famous St. Mary’s Basilica Church in Shivajinagar, heart of the Cantonment Area of Bangalore East, Karnataka, India. The Church is situated opposite the Russel Market Square, the must shoppe for those who lived in the Cantonment Era. The basilica was built in 1818, just as a small chapel by Abbe Dubois. Later in 1882, Rev. L.E. Kleiner renovated to the ornate Gothic style. It was adorned with stained glass windows , which were imported from Paris.

 During the II World War the windows were remove and later restored in year 1947, the year of India’s Independence. The St. Mary’s Basilica was awarded the status of sixth Basilica in India by the Papal Order by Pope John Paul V1. Reverences to Miracles of St Mary In ancient times, the statue of St Mary would be paraded in the streets. Once this procession was stoned by a radical test. People involved in this heinous deed miraculously died of Cholera and ill health. Later the church was attacked by vandals and they set fire to the church.

 Everything in the premises was burnt down except the wooden statue of the St. Mary was miraculously intact. Today it is enclosed in a glass case for protection. Subsequently, in 1970s a new bigger statue of St Mary was erected, attempting to relocate the old statue proved to be in futile. Due to these micarcles the St Mary’s Church has received the Basilica status by the Papal Order by Pope John Paul VI in 1973.

To this day, people from all religions, caste or creed pay homage and prayers to the St. Mary. Many offer prayers after their wishes have been granted. St. Mary’s Feast: This feast is celebrated in the month of September every year by all. Followers wear crimson dress for 40days before the feast and attend the mass every evening at the church. On the day of the Mary’s Feast the church is grandly decorated and lakhs of people throng to offer their prayers.