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| Queen Mission Church, Berhampur |
Thousands of Christians from
different parts of the State and Andhra Pradesh gathered in Berhampur city on
Tuesday to attend the concluding ceremony of ‘Queen of the Mission Festival’. It
is a more-than-150-year-old festival observed at the Queen of the Mission
cathedral in the city. Thousands of devotees marched through the streets of
Berhampur holding burning candles in their hands in honour of Mother Mary on
Friday evening. It is celebrated to commemorate the appearance of Mother Mary
before St Catherina Laboure of France on Nov 27, 1830. So, this festival
concludes on Nov 27. This festival has been celebrated in the Queen of the
Mission Cathedral of the city since its inception in 1855. The main attraction
of this festival is a large candle procession taken out by the devout on Nov 27
evening every year. The festival is also called ‘Candles’ Day festival by the
common mass.
As part of the concluding day rituals
a special holy mass was held at the cathedral on Tuesday morning. This mass was
attended by Bishop Sarat C. Nayak of Berhampur diocese and around 70 priests. In
the evening thousands of Christian devotees took part in the procession with
lighted candles in their hands. They marched forward singing songs in praise of
Mother Mary. An idol of Mother Mary on a decorated vehicle was carried along
with the procession. Tight security arrangements had been made around the
cathedral and on the roads through which the procession passed. People of
different religions paid respect to the idol of Mother Mary at different
squares.
Source: The Hindu &
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