Khammam: The four-day annual feast of famous Karunagiri Church will commence on Thursday at Karunagiri in Khammam, informed its director father Mathew Varaprasad Raju.
He said that the annual feast of the church will conclude on March 2. A large number of devotees from across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States would attend the celebrations. On Thursday at 4 pm Khammam Catholic diocese Bishop Dr Sagili Prakash will hoist the flag followed by Holy Mass.
On Friday, a special retreat and healing prayers will be conducted by father Benny of Eluru Divine Word Retreat Centre. On March 1 a special Eucharistic celebration will be conducted by retired Bishop Maipan Paul. There will be a procession with the chariot Jesus Christ and a play on the prodigal son.
Kurnool diocese Bishop Father Johannes Gorantla, Khammam Bishop Dr Sagili Prakash and priests will offer a Holy Mass on March 2. After the mass separate kolatam competitions will be conducted for men and women, cultural programmes would be presented by students, father Varaprasad Raju said.
Bishop Dr Prakash said that Karunagiri festival had been of great importance in the two Telugu States for decades and lakhs of devotees from both the Telugu States were attending the celebrations. This time the feast would celebrated in a very prestigious and spiritual manner. Karunagiri Shrine stands as a symbol of the spiritual faith of the devotees, he said.