A priest applies ash on the forehead of a Christian devotee on Ash Wednesday at our lady of Snows Basilica in Thoothukudi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: N. RAJESH
Devotees thronged to churches in various parts of Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts on Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of this year’s Lent season.
As part of the tradition, palm leaves used during last year’s Palm Sunday procession were burnt and ashes obtained from them were applied in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of devotees.
Following this custom, parish priests in Catholic churches, applied ashes on the foreheads of devotees in the form of a cross. At the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishop Stephen A. Stephen of Thoothukudi diocese participated in the holy mass and marked the devotees forehead’s with ashes. A large number of devotees attended the service.
Similar Ash Wednesday special masses were also conducted at Our Lady of Snow Basilica and other churches across the district.
In Kanniyakumari district, Bishop Nazarene Soosai marked the foreheads of devotees with ashes at a special mass held at St. Xavier’s Cathedral in Kottar.
Similar services were also conducted at St. Antony’s church in Kuzhithurai, Our Lady of Ransom Church in Kanniyakumari, St. Michael’s church in Rajavoor and other churches across the district.
Published – February 18, 2026 08:17 pm IST
