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Like a lotus amidst squalor, the revered St Mary's Basilica is
a paean to Bangalore's assimilative quality.
St Mary's Basilica in Shivajinagar stands out like a lotus in an
area that's not exactly known for its squeaky clean surroundings.
It's a haven of peace amid a mad tangle of impatient motorists,
wrangling vendors, badgering beggars and pedestrians in a perpetual
hurry. And yes, it's also "the most Gothic among the ecclesiastical
edifices of the city", as former chairman of Bangalore Urban
Art Commission, T P Issar, puts it.
Its 17th century beginnings were humble - a small, thatched hut
for migrant farmers - that was later expanded by Fr Jean Dubois,
a French Jesuit, to a chapel and a priests' residence. All other
Catholic parishes in Bangalore grew out of this one church.
The next stage of expansion saw the church built in the shape of
a cross, with a hall facing east and west and with two aisles to
the north and south. But that structure was plundered and damaged
during communal riots in 1832. Only a few years later, the great
plague ravaged Blackpalli, as the village was known then, and people
attribute miraculous healings to Mother Mary, since called "Annai
Arokiamarie" (Our Lady of Good Health).
The construction of the present church began in 1875 by Rev Fr
Kleiner. The structure, 172 feet long and 50 feet wide, came at
a cost of Rs 30,000. The 160-foot tower and façade is impressive,
even from a distance. The architecture is Gothic, the preferred
style used for cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe between
the 12th and 16th centuries. Ornate pillars and stained glass windows,
brought in from Belgium and depicting significant events from the
Bible, complete the interiors.
The completed church was solemnly consecrated on September 8, 1882
by Monsignor Joannes Maria Y Coadou, vicar apostolic of Mysore.
The next milestone in the church's history came in 1973 when it
was elevated to a Basilica, an important church that is given special
ceremonial rights by the Pope. The historic event was officially
announced and celebrated on 26 January 1974 with a grand car procession
carrying the Eucharist.
In time, a hall was constructed where the statue of Mother Mary,
draped in a saree, was erected. The saree is changed every day,
which devotees themselves contribute. It is said that in 1875 when
the new church was built, people tried to move this statue to the
main building, but they could not. The statue has thus remained
where it was originally installed.
Meanwhile, the Basilica grew in popularity, drawing thousands, particularly
during the feast celebrations that culminate on September 8, the
birthday of Mother Mary. For those 10 days, Shivajinagar is a sea
of saffron, the colour that devotees wear. More renovation and beautification
became inevitable in 2005-07. And that's how the church came to
be the way it is now.
Today, it's a place "that accepts people from all walks of
life, religions and castes. When one enters the gates, he forgets
all the differences," says Rev Fr A S Anthony Swami, the parish
priest of St Mary's Basilica. That's why Bangaloreans - Christians,
Hindus and Muslims alike - throng the Basilica.
You Must Know !
* The area where the basilica is located was formerly called Blackpalli
(billi-akki-pally - the village of white rice) and now known as
Shivajinagar.
* The present church was solemnly consecrated on September 8, 1882
in the presence of 35 priests and about 4,000 of the city's Catholics.
Visit: www.stmarysbasilica.org
Source: BangaloreMirror
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