Devotees performed special pujas and had darshan of Gunadala Lourdu Matha on the third day of the centenary celebrations of the shrine on Sunday.
Devotees attend the prayer at the Gunadala Mary Matha shrine in Vijayawada on Sunday. | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao
Priests, Sisters and Fathers of Vijayawada Catholic Diocese performed the holy mass. Devotees broke coconuts and offered flowers to Mary Matha atop Gunadala Hill. The priests gave ‘teertha prasadams’ to the pilgrims.
More than 150 religious heads, bishops, sisters and fathers offered ‘Divya Balipuja’ and gave blessings to the devotees on the occasion.
India and Nepal Apostolic Nuncio, Leopoldo Girelli, who was the chief guest for the Utsavams, praised the Vijayawada Catholic Diocese Bishop, Thelagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, Gunadala Temple Rector, Yeleti William Jayaraju, Monsignor Muvvala Prasad and other priests for developing the temple.
Heavy rush was seen at the bus stand and railway stations, with people thronging the Gunadala shrine. Devotees were seen waiting in long queues since dawn to have ‘darshan’ of Mary Matha.
The South Central Railway (SCR) and the APSRTC made special arrangements for the pilgrims visiting the temple for the Utsavams.
Police imposed traffic restrictions on Eluru Road and other roads as the rush was heavy on the third day of the centenary celebrations of the historic temple.
