Gunadala Mary Matha Shrine decked up for the annual festival in Vijayawada on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO

The 101-year-old Gunadala Shrine has been decked up for Mary Matha Utsavams, to be celebrated from February 9 to 11 atop the Gunadala Hill.

Devotees from across the country thronged the church to attend the special prayers, which Vijayawada Bishop Telagathoti Joseph Rajarao, Gunadala Shrine rector Yeleti William Jayaraju and other priests will perform at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday (February 9) on Bishop Grassi High School grounds before inaugurating the festival.

The Bishop said that devotees from different religions will offer prayers and have darshan of Mary Matha during the festival. The priests will deliver message and offer blessings to the devotees, he said.

“Cultural programmes will be arranged at the Shrine. The Gunadala Mary Matha Utsava Committee and the officers of various departments reviewed the arrangements for the festival,” said Mr. William Jayaraju.

Officers of the NTR Police Commissionerate have made security arrangements for the utsavams.