Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin   

10-day church fest begins

— Photo: N. Rajesh

First day: Devotees thronging Our Lady of the Snows Basilica in Tuticorin.

Tuticorin: The 11-day annual festival of the historic Our Lady of Snows Basilica commenced here on Saturday. Amid prayers from thousands of devotees, Bishop of Tuticorin Yvon Ambrose hoisted a flag to mark the beginning of the celebrations.

The church sources said that this year’s celebrations would be marked by special masses in Tamil and Malayalam, sermon, rosary, Corpus Christi procession, solemn whispers and benediction by Tamil Nadu Bishops.

Established in 1582, the shrine of Virgin Mary attained the status of Basilica in 1982. According to legend, the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Snows was brought to the Tuticorin shore from a chapel at The Philippines in a ship named ‘Santalena,’ in 1555.

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