Through confession of sins, the two-day long Fatima Rani pilgrimage festival began at Baromari Dharmapalli in Sherpur's Nalitabari upazila on Thursday afternoon. The festival was conducted by Reverend Father Simon Haccha of Mymensingh seminary, while Reverend Father Gabriel Koraia of Dhaka's Banani Seminary spoke as chief guest.
Devotees participating in the festival paid their respects to Mother Maria and asked her help for fulfilling their wishes. At night, the devotees participated in a candlelight procession to extricate themselves of their sins.
Throughout the night, the devotees will take part in various events including adoration of sacrament, healing, awakening and resurrection on the premises of the 48-feet statue of Mother Maria at the pilgrimage site.
The festival will end on Friday noon after the resurrection of the cross and completion of its journey.
Reverend Father Tapan Banwari, Coordinator of the festival, said that the festival at Baromari Dharmapalli is held on the last Thursday and Friday of October every year where thousands of Christian devotees take part to free themselves of their sins.
"The Saint Leo Dharmapalli was established on 42 acres of land in 1942, which was announced as the pilgrimage site of Fatima Rani in 1998 by the late Bishop Francis A Gomez of Mymensingh seminary," said Banwari.
Lewis Nengminza, vice-president of Barmari Christian Dharmapalli and former tribal chairman, said that although the festival was held in limited scale for the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic, around 25,000-30,000 pilgrims have taken part in the festival this year as the restrictions have been lifted.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have covered Baromari Dharmapalli and its adjacent areas in security blanket. CCTV cameras are everywhere, while large number of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rab and Ansar members along with volunteers have been deployed to ensure safety.
"The Fatima Rani festival is the largest of its kind in the Mymensingh region. Not only local devotees but pilgrims from other countries also join this festival. That's why Officials of law enforcement agencies are always active to thwart any untoward incident," said Md Kamruzzaman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sherpur.
END/TDM/EHM
