Karkala: St. Lawrence Shrine Attur attracts lakhs of devotees to the annual feast

By Eugene DSouza
Pics by Eugene DSouza and Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Karkala, 27 Jan 2016: There has been streams of  thousands of devotees to the holy shrine of St. Lawrence Attur-Karkala since Sunday, 24 January 2016 on the occasion of the annual feast that is spread over for five days up to Thursday, 28 January 2016. Being holiday on account of the Republic Day on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, lakhs of devotees made a beeline to the shrine causing a lot of traffic snarls. As the parking places could not accommodate vehicle that were streaming into the shrine complex, many were forced to park them one to two kilometres away by the sides of the road and walk all the way to the shrine and back.

 

There have been masses at regular intervals from Sunday in Konkani and Kannada. On Tuesday, there were 11 Masses. At 4.30 pm, the solemn Mass in English was celebrated by Most Rev. Dr Eugene Joseph, Bishop of Varanasi Diocese as the chief celebrant along with many priests.

 

 

Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellari Diocese Concelebrated the festive mass in Kannada language at 6.30pm. At 8 pm, Rev. Fr. Anil D’Souza, Dean of Kundapur Varado concelebrated mass in Konkani. Adoration of the Holy Eucharist was conducted from 11.30pm.

 

Wednesday, 27 January 2016 being  the main feast day, 11 masses are being offered so that maximum number of devotees can participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Bishop of Belthangady, Most Rev. Dr. Lawrence Mukkuzzhi, celebrated festive mass in Kannada at 8 am. The main solemn feast mass in Konkani at 10.30 am was celebrated by the Bishop of Mangaluru, Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza.

 

Bishop Udupi, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo will celebrate the feast mass in honour of Our Lady of Guide in Konkani at 10 am on Thursday, 28 January 2016.

 

Towrdss the end of every mass, prayers for the sick are being recited and blessings imparted. Following the end of the mass the priests concelebrating resspective masses would place their hands on the head of each individual coming in line and pray for them.

 

The atmosphere at St. Lawrence Shrine has been that of devotion, reverence and festivities. Devotees of St. Lawrence, like in previous years have been arriving not only from different parts of Udupi and Mangaluru dioceses but also from other districts and even from Kerala and Tamilnadu. Hundreds of devotees were seen spending the night under the pandal in front of the shrine. CCTV arrangement has been made in order to enable the devotees who could not find place inside the shrine to participate in the Masses.

 

There has been continuous lines to venerate the holy relic of St. Lawrence and the ‘Statue of Miracle’. From there devotees would enter the old shrine and pray to the saint for the favours received from him and with petitions. People of different religions were seen offering their prayers with great reverence and awe.

 

Devotees were seen burning the candles in front of the statue of St. Lawrence and queuing up to receive flowers and holy oil. They would also make their way to the holy pond of ‘Pushkarini’ and do their offerings there.

 

Arrangements  for confessions has been made in the building under construction. Large number of volunteers have been helping the devotees at various spots of veneration to the Saint of Miracles. Police have been found regulating traffic, movement of the devotees and maintaining law and order. In spite of huge crowds milling around the shrine, there has been excellent discipline and reverence in the holy place.

 

Varieties of stalls selling different types of articles right from religious to worldly including sweets of different kinds and the famous melons have been set up by the side of the road leading to the shrine. Giant wheels and merry-go rounds and other thrilling games have been the added attraction of the grand feast of St. Lawrence at Attur-Karkala.