The annual feast (‘Thirunal Mahotsavam’) at the historic St. Theresa’s Shrine, Mahe (Union Territory of Pondicherry in India), will be celebrated between October 5 and 22.
The St. Theresa’s Shrine is one of the prominent churches in India and it is dedicated to St. Theresa of Avila. The festival flag will be hoisted in front of the ancient church on October 5 to mark the beginning of the fest. Following the flag hoisting, parish priest Fr. Geo Payyapilly will install the deity’s statue in the church at 12 noon.
The important festival rituals will be held on October 14 and 15. A procession will be held in Mahe town on October 14 at 7.30 p.m. and devotees from various parts of the country and abroad will take part in it. On October 14, the Feast Day, devotees will carry out ‘sayana pradakshinam’ (rolling procession) on the premises of the church at 6 a.m.
The bishops who will participate in the festival include Dr. Maxwell Norona, Dr. Peter Chenapparambil, Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Dr. Varghese Chakkalakkal and Dr. Joseph Kalathipparambil. Hundreds of people, cutting across caste and religion, will participate in the festival since it is considered very sacred.
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