Bengaluru: The annual novena and feast of St Mary’s Basilica in Shivajinagar will be celebrated from Aug 29, with thousands of devotees expected to participate in the 11-day festivities culminating in the Feast of Nativity of Virgin Mary on Sept 8.The nine-day novena will commence on Aug 29 with the customary flag-hoisting ceremony at 5.30pm. It will be followed by sermons, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass. Masses will be held every day from 5.30am to 9pm in different languages.On Sept 8, the feast day, three special masses will be held at Russell Market Square in Kannada, Tamil and English. The grand chariot procession of Mother Mary will begin at 5.30pm.BMTC will operate special buses to the basilica and there’ll be designated parking facilities, including arrangements in adjoining BMRCL premises, for devotees.
