Thousands participate in annual car festival of St. Xavier’s Cathedral in Kottar

Thousands of devotees witnessed the annual car festival of St. Xavier’s Cathedral in Kottar on Wednesday.

The annual feast commenced with gaiety and fervor with a flag hoisting ceremony on Monday (November 24), and ended with the grand car festival on Wednesday.

Rev. Nazarene Soosai, Bishop of Kootar Diocese conducted a special mass at 6 a.m, followed by another special mass in Malayalam at 8 a.m.

The car procession started around 11 a.m. and passed through Xavier street, Asarimar street, Kambolam road, Railway road and Cape road before reaching the church premises.

On account of the cathedral’s festival, Kanniyakumari district administration had declared a local holiday on Wednesday.

Thousands of devotees from various parts of Kanniyakumari district and Kerala thronged the festival to witness the car procession and offered salt and pepper to the deity, as a traditional practice.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation had arranged special bus services to Kottar from across the district.

The cathedral was colourfully illuminated with decorative lights and the entire road from Anna bus stand to Railway station road was busting with activity as road side shops sold eatables, imitation ornaments and home decor items.

Kanniyakumari district police made elaborate arrangements and deployed additional police personnel to ensure the security at the festival venue. Since Tuesday, traffic diversions were implemented in many parts of city, to facilitate smooth movement of the cathedral’s car procession through the streets and major roads.