: The 11-day annual festival at Our Lady of Health Basilica in Vailankanni in the district, a major Christian pilgrimage town in Tamil Nadu, commenced tonight with thehoistingof the holyflag.
Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country witnessed the event.
Bishop of Thanjavur M Devadass Ambrose presided over theflaghoistingceremony.
After special prayers, the 22-feet long and 14-feet broad holy flagwas taken in a procession around the church.
Following theflaghoistingceremony, holy mass, litany and benediction were conducted.
The chariot procession, the main event of the festival will take place on September 8.
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District Collector C Suresh Kumar said tight security arrangements had been made for the festival.
Devotees from across the country including Mumbai, Goa and Puducherry are expected to attend the festival.
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) is plying special buses from various places including Chennai, Madurai, Karur, Tiruchirappali, Thanjavur and Puducherry among others.
Southern Railway is operating trains from Vasco da Gama (Goa), Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Chennai and Tirunelveli while Central Railway has announced special trains from Mumbai.
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