Vijayawada: Devotees offer special prayers at Gunadala Hill

Vijayawada: Heavy rush of devotees continued on Gunadala shrine on the second day Monday to mark the annual Mary Matha festival. A large number of devotees marched to the hill shrine in serpentine queue line and offered special prayers. Warangal Catholic diocese Bishop Udumula Bala was the chief guest on the second day. Bishop Udumula Bala along with Vijayawada Catholic diocese Bishop Thelagatoti Joseph Rajarao, Vijayawada Catholic diocese monsignor Muvvala Prasad, Vicor general M Gabriel, Gunadala holy shrine Rector Father Y William Jayaraju , Chancellor Father Valle Joji Babu, Social Services Director Father Pasala Thomas and others participated in the holy mass performed at the Bishop Grossi High School on the second day.

Addressing the devotees, Bishop Udumula Bala said a large number of devotees irrespective of caste and religion visit the Gunadala shrine and offer prayers. He said the world needs the protection of Jesus Christ and his life was an example to us all. He said Mary Matha protects people from virus like Corona and reminded that during the World War I, Mother Lurth saved the people in those days.

Hundreds of volunteers rendered their services to lakhs of devotees. The APSRTC is operating special services and Railways made arrangements to halt trains at Madhura Nagar and Gunadala for the convenience of devotees.

Cultural programmes performed by artistes and students enthralled the devotees visiting the shrine. Hundreds of police were drafted duty for peaceful conduct of three-day annual festival.