Udupi: Nineth Annual Padayatre to the Attur Shrine unites all Belle devotees

By Ivan Menezes
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 28 Jan 2014: The Nineth annual pilgrimage on foot “padayatre” to the Shrine of St.Lawrence at Attur. Karkala was flagged off from the Shrine of St. Lawrence at Moodubelle on Tuesday January 28th 2014 at 4.15pm. Over 250 devotees of St. Lawrence had gathered in the Church premise including women, children along with Hindu brother and sisters joined the pilgrimage. Fr. Raj Principal of St. Lawrence English Medium School  Moodubelle invoked the prayers in front of the Church for the safe pilgrimage to and back from Attur.

 

 

The former Taluk Panchayat President Devdas Hebbar and members of Belle Grama Panchayat invited all devotes to the padayatre to the Attur Shrine. It was 8 years back that the pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Lawrence at Attur was initiated under the leadership of Gerald Fernandes with 35 devotees. Since then Gerald has been  leading the “Padayatre” every year on the eve of the annual fest of St. Lawrence at Attur -Karkala.

 

 

The pilgrims were served with juice and refreshments in   4 – 5 places on the way to Attur. The Light dinner had arranged at the residence of Mrs. Rashmi Shetty – president of Karkala Taluk Panchayat at 7.30pm. The Pilgrims from Pamboor, Padubelle, Shirva, and neighboring villages joined to the “Padayatre” .  The President of Belle Grama Panchayat Mr. Rajendra Shetty, Udupi District Member Mrs. Ida Gibba Dsouza, Former District Panchayat President Gerald Fernandes and Prof.Vincent Alva.