Hindus and Christians pray at Kerala's St.Mary's church

Manarkad (Kerala): Thousands of Christians and Hindu devotees have gathered at the St Mary’s Church in Manarkad near Kottayam for an annual eight-day festival.

Devotees participated in ceremonial processions, carrying colourful parasols on the seventh day of the festival on Friday.

The seventh day is the most important day. On this day, the process called ‘Nada Thurakkal’ or opening the main door is done, and the devotees rush to have a glimpse of the Mother Mary and offer prayers in front of the statue.

All communities, regardless of caste and creed, celebrate the festival by observing a fast, locally known as ‘Ettnombu Perunnal’ to appease the Mother and to seek a cure for their ailments.

"I came and prayed for two to three months at a stretch. The Mother never fails those who make a fervent plea. The Mother will knowingly help us out of all our problems. I came here to seek her blessings to cure me of my ailments," said Molly Thomas, a Christian devotee.

The miraculous effect of the Mother’s blessings sees devotees cutting across religious faiths to participate in the festival.

"I was suffering from a leg problem and tried many medicines and doctors, but all in vain. Only through prayers to Mother Mary, was I cured. Since then, our family members have been coming here for 20 years now," said Sujata PS, a Hindu devotee.

Devotees stay in the church from morning till night. This is actually the feast of Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated by Kerala’s Christian community from September 1-8 every year.

The main offering, or ‘Kanikka’ at the church, is ‘Muthukkuda’ (highly embellished glossy parasols). The church has a holy tank and a golden cross, which are considered sacred.

There are more over 5000 ‘Muthukkuda’ placed in the church this year.

Saturday being the last day of the festival, allows devotees to break their fast by having an afternoon fest.

(This is a warning to Hindus fostering the belief ‘All Religions Are Equal’ that they can be mislead by such news and that they have to be careful -Editor)

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/070908/139/6khwd.html