Karnataka - Bangalore   

Car procession taken out

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

GRAND: The Infant Jesus car procession at Viveknagar in Bangalore on Monday .

Bangalore: A few burst into tears while a few others chanted hymns as the grand car decorated with flowers, carrying an idol of Infant Jesus was wheeled out of the compound of the Infant Jesus Church at Viveknagar here on Monday.

Devotees threw flowers, salt and pepper, signifying an act of purification, on the decorated car, which was taken around the shrine.

P.K.H. Tharakan, Advisor to Governor, who was the chief guest, addressed the gathering before the grand car was taken out on a procession.

Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, said, “I pray the Lord to bless this congregation. May the Lord bless our city and the people.”

People were vying for space and trying to get a glimpse of the decorated grand car.

Devotees from across the country had come to participate in the 37th annual feast.

Lenin and Anitha Sahayanathan were standing on the third floor of a building opposite the church in hope of getting a good view of the car and the procession.

“I have been coming to the feast ever since I was a little child. Over the years, more and more people have been participating in the feast,” said Ms. Sahayanathan.

Latha Maria, a teacher, was there with her entire family. “Many miracles are said to have happened here. The number of people who believe in the power of Infant Jesus is ever increasing.”

A prayer was held later at the shrine. It was followed by the lowering of the Infant Jesus flag to mark the end of the nine-day feast.

The feast, which marks the setting up of the church in the city, began with the unfurling of the flag on January 4.

Special mass were held in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the feast.

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