Streets in and around St Mary's Basilica in Shivajinagar wore a festive look as devotees from various parts of Bengaluru and outside thronged the church to witness the annual chariot procession on the occasion of St Mary's Feast.
Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Broadway Road and other streets adjacent to the church were packed with devotees wearing coral-coloured clothes. Devotees started pouring in on Thursday morning to St Mary's Basilica, considered to be one of the oldest churches in Bengaluru.
Thousands of devotees witnessed the chariot procession that began at 5.30 pm. The decorated and illuminated car carried a six-foot tall statue of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus in her arms. The car passed through Russell Market Square, Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Shivaji Road and Broadway Road before returning to the church through Russell Market Square amid the chants of 'Ave Maria' (Praise to Mary).
"The St Mary's feast began on August 29 with the flag-hoisting at the church. September 8 is an auspicious day as this is the day when Mother Mary was born and we celebrate it as Holy feast," said Anthony Raj, a volunteer at the church. Holy mass was offered in different languages at the church as well as in other churches in the city.
Commuters suffer
BMTC commuters headed for Shivajinagar were inconvenienced as buses stopped near Balekundri Circle on Queen's Road. Many commuters were forced to walk and take auto-rickshaw.
"Autos refused to ply near Shivajinagar, and after half an hour of wait, I finally got an auto. The driver charged me double. As I was getting late for work, I ended up paying extra," said Priyadarshini Raghu, who works for an advertising agency in Indiranagar.
More than 500 traffic policemen were deployed in and around Shivajinagar on Thursday evening to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the car procession.
Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Broadway Road and other streets adjacent to the church were packed with devotees wearing coral-coloured clothes. Devotees started pouring in on Thursday morning to St Mary's Basilica, considered to be one of the oldest churches in Bengaluru.
Thousands of devotees witnessed the chariot procession that began at 5.30 pm. The decorated and illuminated car carried a six-foot tall statue of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus in her arms. The car passed through Russell Market Square, Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Shivaji Road and Broadway Road before returning to the church through Russell Market Square amid the chants of 'Ave Maria' (Praise to Mary).
"The St Mary's feast began on August 29 with the flag-hoisting at the church. September 8 is an auspicious day as this is the day when Mother Mary was born and we celebrate it as Holy feast," said Anthony Raj, a volunteer at the church. Holy mass was offered in different languages at the church as well as in other churches in the city.
Commuters suffer
BMTC commuters headed for Shivajinagar were inconvenienced as buses stopped near Balekundri Circle on Queen's Road. Many commuters were forced to walk and take auto-rickshaw.
"Autos refused to ply near Shivajinagar, and after half an hour of wait, I finally got an auto. The driver charged me double. As I was getting late for work, I ended up paying extra," said Priyadarshini Raghu, who works for an advertising agency in Indiranagar.
More than 500 traffic policemen were deployed in and around Shivajinagar on Thursday evening to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the car procession.
Streets in and around St Mary’s Basilica in Shivajinagar wore a festive look as devotees from various parts of Bengaluru and outside thronged the church to witness the annual chariot procession on the occasion of St Mary’s Feast.
Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Broadway Road and other streets adjacent to the church were packed with devotees wearing coral-coloured clothes. Devotees started pouring in on Thursday morning to St Mary’s Basilica, considered to be one of the oldest churches in Bengaluru.
Thousands of devotees witnessed the chariot procession that began at 5.30 pm. The decorated and illuminated car carried a six-foot tall statue of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus in her arms. The car passed through Russell Market Square, Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Shivaji Road and Broadway Road before returning to the church through Russell Market Square amid the chants of 'Ave Maria’ (Praise to Mary).
"The St Mary’s feast began on August 29 with the flag-hoisting at the church. September 8 is an auspicious day as this is the day when Mother Mary was born and we celebrate it as Holy feast,” said Anthony Raj, a volunteer at the church. Holy mass was offered in different languages at the church as well as in other churches in the city.
Commuters suffer
BMTC commuters headed for Shivajinagar were inconvenienced as buses stopped near Balekundri Circle on Queen’s Road. Many commuters were forced to walk and take auto-rickshaw.
"Autos refused to ply near Shivajinagar, and after half an hour of wait, I finally got an auto. The driver charged me double. As I was getting late for work, I ended up paying extra,” said Priyadarshini Raghu, who works for an advertising agency in Indiranagar.
More than 500 traffic policemen were deployed in and around Shivajinagar on Thursday evening to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the car procession.
Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Broadway Road and other streets adjacent to the church were packed with devotees wearing coral-coloured clothes. Devotees started pouring in on Thursday morning to St Mary’s Basilica, considered to be one of the oldest churches in Bengaluru.
Thousands of devotees witnessed the chariot procession that began at 5.30 pm. The decorated and illuminated car carried a six-foot tall statue of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus in her arms. The car passed through Russell Market Square, Meenakshi Koil Street, Shivaji Circle, Shivaji Road and Broadway Road before returning to the church through Russell Market Square amid the chants of 'Ave Maria’ (Praise to Mary).
"The St Mary’s feast began on August 29 with the flag-hoisting at the church. September 8 is an auspicious day as this is the day when Mother Mary was born and we celebrate it as Holy feast,” said Anthony Raj, a volunteer at the church. Holy mass was offered in different languages at the church as well as in other churches in the city.
Commuters suffer
BMTC commuters headed for Shivajinagar were inconvenienced as buses stopped near Balekundri Circle on Queen’s Road. Many commuters were forced to walk and take auto-rickshaw.
"Autos refused to ply near Shivajinagar, and after half an hour of wait, I finally got an auto. The driver charged me double. As I was getting late for work, I ended up paying extra,” said Priyadarshini Raghu, who works for an advertising agency in Indiranagar.
More than 500 traffic policemen were deployed in and around Shivajinagar on Thursday evening to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the car procession.