 Shivajinagar
in the first eight days of September is a sight to behold. Busy hawkers,
saffron clad devotees, motorists and cars can be found everywhere
in the vicinity of St. Mary's Basilica Inside the church, the air
will be thick with the sweet fragrance of jasmine the acrid fumes
rising from lit candles and prayers of the devout. So what's happening?
Well, St.
Mary's Feast is just around the corner and St. Mary's
Basilica is the scene of action with devotees gathering here to prepare
for the feast.
 St.
Mary's Basilica has always been a centre of attraction for all believers.
Lakhs of people irrespective of their faith come from all over to
venerate Our Lady of Health and seek her maternal intercession.
The church is also special for its antiquity - it is the oldest
church in Bangalore and dates back to 1685. The church was originally
a chapel before it was pulled down and re-done by Abbe Dubois,
a Catholic priest who came over to Bangalore from Srirangapatna
after the fall of Tipu Sultan. It was later elevated to the status
of a Minor Basilica on January 26, 1974.
Incidentally, it is not simple for a church to be consecrated as
a Basilica. Fr Jerome, Assistant Parish Priest of St. Mary's
Basilica said,"Before a church is consecrated as a Basilica,
it needs to have a special status. First of all, it needs to have
antiquity. Lots of devotees should visit the church and miracles
should have happened there. It should be a pilgrimage centre. When
a church meets all these needs, only then it can be consecrated
as a Basilica. And only a Pope can confer that status."
 The
biggest feast associated with the Basilica is St. Mary's
Feast which falls on September 8. Devotees from all over
gather here, saffron clad, to pray for their needs. Novenas (series
of prayers) are held every hour. For eight days, the atmosphere
is intense and one finds security guards everywhere to control the
massive crowd. This continues until the day after the feast. On
the day of the feast, services or masses are held in the morning.
The famous car procession of the statue of Our Lady of Health
starts in the evening. The day ends with a service venerating Our
Lady.
| Mischelle Rebello |
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