Nagapattinam: Thousands Gather At Velankanni For Annual Feast
Thousands of devotees began gathering at the Velankanni Church in the coastal district of Tamil Nadu on Saturday for the ceremonial flag hoisting marking the start of the 11-day annual festival.
Nagapattinam: Thousands of devotees began gathering at the Velankanni Church in the coastal district of Tamil Nadu on Saturday for the ceremonial flag hoisting marking the start of the 11-day annual festival. The festival of the renowned Our Lady of Health Basilica at Velankanni, one of Tamil Nadu's most significant religious celebrations, will be held from August 29 to September 8, 2026.
Nagapattinam District Collector KJ Praveen Kumar earlier informed that the government will operate as many as 525 special buses from various destinations, while private bus facilities and their parking slots have also been arranged.
An integrated help centre and a dedicated toll-free number will also be launched to address devotees' grievances, and special medical camps at seven locations, and as many as 10 ambulances and three bike ambulances will also be in operation during the festival for the devotees..
For the devotees who wish to bathe at the seashore, as many as 12 fire and rescue vehicles, along with two rescue boats and diving experts, including local fishermen, will be stationed on the beach, he said.
