Vijayawada Catholic Diocese Bishop Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao carrying the cross alongside devotees and taking out a procession to the hill top to mark the beginning of nine-day prayers as part of the holy communal at the Gunadala Mother Mary Shrine in Vijayawada, on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI
The 102nd Navadina Japalu of Gunadala Matha Shrine began amid prayers at Gunadala hill here on Saturday.
Vijayawada Catholic Diocese Bishop Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, monsignore Muvvala Prasad, vicar general Mesapam Gabriel, Gunadala temple rector Yeleti William Jayaraju and others hoisted the Mariya Matha flag at the temple on the occasion.
In his message to the devotees, the Bishop said the Gunadala shrine, the second largest church in South India, was celebrating the 102 Utsavams, and thousands of devotees were expected to attend the festival.
Later, the Bishop, along with Fr. Kolakani Mariyanna, Social Services director Fr. Thota Sunil Raju and other priests offered ‘Divya Balipuja’ to Mary Matha.
Gunadala church management has made elaborate arrangements for the devotees attending the utsavams, Mr. William Jayaraju said.
Published – January 31, 2026 10:53 pm IST
