With hearts filled with faith, gratitude and joy, the parish community, celebrated the Nativity Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary today, 08-09-2026. The celebration beautifully brought together prayer, cherished tradition and community fellowship.

The feast day began at 8:15 a.m., as parishioners gathered in front of the church grotto. In keeping with the cherished local tradition, newly harvested paddy was brought before the grotto and solemnly blessed by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Anil Prakash D’Silva. Following the blessing, the faithful proceeded towards the church in a prayerful procession, carrying the blessed paddy.

The Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Anil Prakash D’Silva. The celebration offered the faithful an opportunity to honour the birth of Mother Mary and to thank God for His abundant blessings, while seeking the maternal intercession and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Following the Holy Mass, the blessed paddy was distributed among the parishioners. This beautiful tradition carries a profound meaning of thanksgiving for the harvest and a prayer for God’s continued blessings, prosperity and abundance.

Adding sweetness to the celebration, traditional kheer prepared with the newly blessed paddy was distributed among the devotees. Symbolising the new rice harvest, the kheer reflected the joy and blessings associated with the feast. Sugarcane was also distributed to the faithful as part of the traditional celebration.

The ICYM Kokkada Unit contributed to the festive spirit by presenting prizes to the winners of various competitions conducted in connection with the feast.

The feast celebrations were preceded by a spiritually enriching nine-day Novena, during which the faithful gathered in prayer and devotion in preparation for the Nativity of Mother Mary.

The celebration concluded with hearts filled with gratitude and joy, strengthening the bonds of faith and fellowship within the parish community as the faithful honoured the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary and entrusted themselves to her loving maternal care.