Our Lady of Snows shrine festival to begin on Tuesday

Parish priest Lerin De Rose, in a press meet on Saturday, claimed that the famous annual festival for Madha church would commence on Tuesday with a flag hoisting ceremony. Bishop Ivan Ambrose would hold a special joint prayer session at 7.30 am and the flag would be hoisted at 8.30 am.

On the same day at 12 noon the golden throne would be placed for Our Lady of Snows followed by a special prayer session. Earlier on Monday evening the flag post would be carried along all the streets surrounding the church and taken back to the church. 

On the sixth day, on July 31, a special prayer session for the wellbeing of people would be conducted by the bishop and a CD titled ‘Punidha Madha’ would be released. On August 5, the car festival would be conducted. Special accommodation for the devotees would be arranged in nearby schools and the hall belonging to the church management. The church festival transcends religions and people belonging to other faiths participate in the festival. 

More than five lakh people are expected to take part in the festival. The district administration has extended full cooperation to the church and special buses will be arranged. August 5 has been declared as a local holiday for the district for the car festival. The police have also made elaborate security arrangements for the festival, according to the priest.