A large crowd is expected at the Madhu Church for the August feast this year beginning on August 6 and ending on August 15.
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| Roads are being made and walkways prepared ahead of the Madhu festival, which begins on August 6. More than 400,000 devotees from all parts of the country are expected to visit Madhu this year. |
Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph held a meeting on Friday to discuss arrangements for the feast which is being held after a lapse of nearly three decades.
The meeting was held in Bishop’s House in Mannar attended by a few Christian ministers and high officials of the security establishment, with a few Catholic laymen in attendance.
The flag will be hoisted to announce the beginning of the festive period which will take place after Mass on the morning of August 6. Pilgrims will not be allowed to spend the nights between August 6 and August 10 for security reasons, but they can attend morning services.
High Mass will be sung on the morning of August 15 which is the feast day after which all pilgrims will have to leave the camp area. Overnight stay for pilgrims will not be taboo from August 11 to August 14.
Pilgrims will have to bring letters from their area police and their respective parish priests, giving names of participants and the number of their vehicles in which they arrive at Madhu.
Three copies of such letters will have to be submitted by prospective pilgrims, two of which will have to be handed over at the police posts at Medawachchiya and Madhu Road.
The access road to the church from Madhu road is being repaired to facilitate pilgrims. |
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