Thousands Gather as Annual Velankanni Basilica Festival Opens With Flag Hoisting
BCE
0.0600
The Fort Worth Press - Thousands Gather as Annual Velankanni Basilica Festival Opens With Flag Hoisting
USD
-
AED 3.673042
AFN 65.000368
ALL 79.715041
AMD 364.320403
ANG 1.789783
AOA 917.000367
ARS 1499.143585
AUD 1.395504
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.70397
BAM 1.679281
BBD 2.014502
BDT 123.298316
BGN 1.696366
BHD 0.37703
BIF 2992
BMD 1
BND 1.271197
BOB 11.727937
BRL 5.193604
BSD 1.00021
BTN 95.349267
BWP 13.402252
BYN 3.016542
BYR 19600
BZD 2.011669
CAD 1.39105
CDF 2273.000362
CHF 0.809457
CLF 0.023655
CLP 931.010396
CNY 6.72675
CNH 6.731305
COP 3211.02
CRC 451.378305
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 95.503894
CZK 20.838504
DJF 177.720393
DKK 6.453404
DOP 58.750393
DZD 133.39204
EGP 49.798455
ERN 15
ETB 160.503874
EUR 0.863104
FJD 2.198804
FKP 0.737808
GBP 0.738825
GEL 2.603861
GGP 0.737808
GHS 11.19504
GIP 0.737808
GMD 74.000355
GNF 8780.000355
GTQ 7.634879
GYD 209.263688
HKD 7.84235
HNL 26.870388
HRK 6.505404
HTG 130.854201
HUF 315.250388
IDR 17757.4
ILS 2.976204
IMP 0.737808
INR 95.43455
IQD 1310.5
IRR 1374575.000352
ISK 121.390386
JEP 0.737808
JMD 158.543444
JOD 0.70904
JPY 160.07504
KES 129.440385
KGS 87.450384
KHR 4045.503796
KMF 425.00035
KPW 900.000294
KRW 1377.570383
KWD 0.30892
KYD 0.833552
KZT 463.527826
LAK 22425.000349
LBP 89550.000349
LKR 328.019886
LRD 180.250382
LSL 15.990381
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 6.340381
MAD 9.289039
MDL 17.293533
MGA 4329.000347
MKD 52.82251
MMK 2099.727459
MNT 3597.739732
MOP 8.07707
MRU 40.110379
MUR 46.840378
MVR 15.460378
MWK 1736.000345
MXN 17.034504
MYR 4.025904
MZN 63.910377
NAD 15.990377
NGN 1341.580377
NIO 36.720377
NOK 9.375804
NPR 152.558483
NZD 1.691475
OMR 0.381078
PAB 1.00021
PEN 3.351504
PGK 4.42225
PHP 62.270375
PKR 277.550374
PLN 3.74735
PYG 5927.077117
QAR 3.645038
RON 4.539504
RSD 101.324183
RUB 86.149411
RWF 1469
SAR 3.789762
SBD 8.000184
SCR 13.880372
SDG 601.503676
SEK 9.57835
SGD 1.274504
SHP 0.740866
SLE 24.625038
SLL 20969.499227
SOS 571.503662
SRD 37.74037
STD 20697.981008
STN 21.375
SVC 8.75176
SYP 13001.999906
SZL 15.990369
THB 33.150369
TJS 9.25201
TMT 3.51
TND 2.913038
TOP 2.40776
TRY 48.240368
TTD 6.788276
TWD 31.638704
TZS 2644.998038
UAH 44.565558
UGX 3771.073837
UYU 40.278022
UZS 11825.000334
VES 790.677104
VND 26085
VUV 118.250696
WST 2.707834
XAF 563.222427
XAG 0.015062
XAU 0.000224
XCD 2.70255
XCG 1.80268
XDR 0.707052
XOF 563.000332
XPF 103.503591
YER 236.525037
ZAR 16.17251
ZMK 9001.203584
ZMW 18.929211
ZWL 321.999592
- Erasmus calls Rennie barbs over Springbok scrumming 'nonsense'
- 'Sorry' De Zerbi won't panic after Spurs shambles
- Lawrence's fifty leaves Pakistan facing record chase to level England series
- UN, Nepal warn of climate threat after deadly floods
- Netanyahu condemns settler attack in flashpoint West Bank village
- USTA boss says structure of new player council not yet set
- Rescuers dig into tunnel as missing toll from Nepal, China flood nears 3,000
- Munoz saves Iraola in Liverpool draw, big-spending Spurs lose again
- Tiny Elversberg stun Leverkusen on Bundesliga debut, Dortmund beat Hamburg
- Newcastle condemn dismal Spurs to second successive defeat
Thousands Gather as Annual Velankanni Basilica Festival Opens With Flag Hoisting
The annual festival at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni began on Aug. 29 with the ceremonial flag hoisting, drawing large numbers of pilgrims ahead of multilingual services and events continuing through Sept. 8.
VELANKANNI, India — Large numbers of devotees have gathered in the Tamil Nadu pilgrimage town of Velankanni for the annual festival at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, which opened on Saturday with the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony.
The basilica in Nagapattinam district is one of India's best-known Christian pilgrimage sites and attracts visitors from different states and religious backgrounds.
This year's festival began on Aug. 29 and is scheduled to continue through Sept. 8. Bishop Sagayaraj of the Thanjavur diocese blessed the festival flag before it was raised at the church.
From Aug. 30 through Sept. 7, special worship services are scheduled each morning and afternoon at different parts of the basilica complex.
Services will be conducted in several languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, English and Konkani, reflecting the large number of pilgrims arriving from different parts of India.
Devotees have traveled to Velankanni from across Tamil Nadu and other states. Many pilgrims are also reaching the town on foot as part of traditional religious journeys associated with the festival.
The basilica administration, district authorities and police have coordinated arrangements for the expected crowds. Transport authorities are operating special government buses, while special train services are bringing pilgrims from various parts of the country.
Officials have imposed a ban on bathing in the sea at Velankanni during the festival period as a safety measure. Barriers and warning signs have been installed along the beach, and public announcements are being used to inform visitors.
More than 3,000 police personnel have been assigned to security duties under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Kelkar Subramania Balachandra, according to reports on the festival arrangements.
The annual observance will continue with daily religious services and major ceremonies until Sept. 8, with authorities expecting sustained heavy attendance throughout the festival period.
D.Ford--TFWP
