Roads blocked, but faith finds way

Chennai: Around two lakh people congregated for the annual flag hoisting ceremony at the Our Lady of Velankanni Church in Besant Nagar on Tuesday. The ceremony marked the start of a 10-day festival which will culminate on St Mary’s day on September 8, the birthday of mother Mary.
On Tuesday, police had made elaborate arrangements to prevent traffic congestion, yet vehicles piled up on Besant Nagar’s 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue, Beach Road, on Thiru Vi Ka Bridge, L B Road and Sardar Patel Road.Police deployed personnel in plainclothes to keep pickpockets at bay.
According to Church authorities, “thousands of people across all walks of life and religion attended the event which was conducted without any untoward incident.” People had been walking to the church since early morning. “I have been coming here for the past five years. Though I hail from Pune, I make it a point to come here every year,’’ said Fredrick D’Souza, a marketing manager.
Prakash Naidu, who had come along with his family from Tiruvallur, said, “We are Hindus but still have faith in Mother Mary. We will spend the night and leave on Wednesday morning’.”
Asked about the arrangements, Naidu said, “With lakhs of devotees coming, people should make their own arrangements and adjust.”
While life comes to a standstill at Besant Nagar during the first and last days of the festival, S Meganathan a resident of 6th Avenue, said, “It is a yearly affair and we have got used to it over the years. The only nuisance is created by road side vendors who set up shops and draw crowds.”