Annual festival at Vailankanni basilica begins Nagapattinam

The 11-day annual festival at Our Lady of Health Basilica in Vailankanni in the district, a major Christian pilgrimage town in Tamil Nadu, commenced tonight with the hoisting of the holy flag. Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country witnessed the event.

Bishop of Thanjavur M Devadass Ambrose presided over the flag hoisting ceremony. After special prayers, the 22-feet long and 14-feet broad holy flag was taken in a procession around the church. Following the flag hoisting ceremony, holy mass, litany, and benediction were conducted. The chariot procession, the main event of the festival will take place on September 8.

District Collector C Suresh Kumar said tight security arrangements had been made for the festival. Devotees from across the country including Mumbai, Goa, and Puducherry are expected to attend the festival.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) is plying special buses from various places including Chennai, Madurai, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, and Puducherry among others. Southern Railway is operating trains from Vasco da Gama (Goa), Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Chennai, and Tirunelveli while Central Railway has announced special trains from Mumbai.

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