St. Mary's Basilica, Bangalore

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St. Mary's Basilica is a basilica located the Archdiocese of Bangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the oldest church in Bangalore and is the only church in the state that has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica.cite web|url=http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900270200.htm|title= Home to all faiths|author=K. Chandramouli|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2002-08-29|accessdate=2007-08-15] cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zzWFvPc2xP0C&pg=PA15&lpg=PA15&dq=%22st+mary's+basilica%22+%22is+the+only+church%22&source=web&ots=-KffEuXi6N&sig=8XVOVxkNmbgdWomBYdnBm2Mtma4#PPA15,M1|title=Bangalore:An Expat Survival Guide|pubisher=Chillibreeze publication|author=Preethi Sharma and Nishi Vishwanathan|accessdate=2007-08-15] It is famous for the festivities held during the St. Mary's Feast in the month of September each year, an event that attracts a number of devotees from in and around Bangalore.

History

Bangalore was not a big city those days when Christianity entered Srirangapattana the capital city of the then Mysore province in the year 1648 AD. But in Hyder Ali's tenure Bangalore has seen its first Church in the Kalasipalya locality somewhere in 1724-25AD. When Tippu Sultan ascended the throne the Christian missionaries have to recede from Mysore. So the history of Christianity in Mysore is in dark till 1799 AD. In the year 1799, when the British seized Srirangapattana from Tipu Sultan, the French MEP priest Fr. Abbe du Bois arrived at Bangalore and started restoring the Christian religion. He went around Somanahalli, Kamanahalli, Begur, Gunjam, Palahalli, Doranahalli, Garenahalli, Shettyhalli etc and visited the Christian populace there extending them the spiritual needs. He is the one first introduced vaccination in India and is the author of the famous book “Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies”. The mass vestments wore by Fr. Du Bois are still preserved in the church at Palahalli near Srirangapattana. He built a Chapel of thatched roof in 1803AD at "Bili Akki Palli" or colloquially, "Blackpally".cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/30/stories/2006083024010300.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2006-08-30|title=Annual St. Mary's Feast begins|accessdate=2007-08-15] and offered mass there and that structure was called Kaanike Mathe Devalaya (which in Kannada means the Church of Our Lady of Presentation).That small prayer place is the location where the basilica is currently present.When the Bangalore Cantonment was established, a mass was regularly held by Father Abbe Dubois which was attended by both European and Indian Christians. In 1813, Fr. Abbe Dubois with the help of Britishers modified and enhanced the chapel and renamed it as Church of our Lady of Purification, Blackpalli. Till the recent past the engraving of the year '1813' was seen in front nave of the old church where the miraculous statue is housed. He also created a residence for priests in the same year.It was subsequently pulled down in the year 1832 AD due to communal riots erupted there. Later it was rebuilt and during the years 1856-1882 it was called in its original name as the Church of our Lady of Presentation.Rev. L. E. Kleiner constructed the basilica in its current form of a majestic Gothic-style church. This new church was consecrated on September 8, 1882 by Bishop Jean-Yves-Marie Coadou, the vicar apostolic of Mysore, in the presence of 35 priests and 4,000 catholic Christians of Bangalore. The total amount spent on the construction of the church including the pulpit and statues was Rs. 29,659. With time, the church of St. Mary's at Blackpally had become a parish and has overseen the construction of other churches at Bangalore, prominent among them being St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral (1851), St. Joseph's Church (1867) and the Sacred Heart Church, Ashokanagara (1867). The church was elevated to the status of minor basilica in 1973 through an order by Pope Paul VI. It was the sixth church in India to be elevated to this status. The area of Blackpally is no longer known by that name and it is now called as Shivajinagara.

Architecture

The basilica has been built in Gothic-style with arches, ornamental motifs and stained glass windows. cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore/Blessing_faithful_soothing_the_eye/articleshow/msid-1263892,curpg-2.cms|author=Anita Rao Kashi|title=Blessing faithful, soothing the eye|publisher=Times Internet Limited|work=Online Edition of The Times of India, dated 2005-10-16|accessdate=2007-08-16] Multiple columns and tall spires of the basilica can be seen from quite a distance. The stained glass windows were removed during World War II and were subsequently restored in 1947.

t. Mary's Feast

St. Mary's Feast which celebrates the birth of Mother Mary is the most important festival celebrated in the basilica and is attended by thousands of people. Held in the month of September, the festivities go on for 10 days culminating in a grand chariot procession on the last day. The festivities begin with the hoisting of a traditional flag. A Novena is held on the first nine days from August 30 to September 7. On September 8, the day on which Mother Mary was born, is celebrated as a feast. Holy mass is offered in different languages and mass marriages are conducted for the poor and needy. A thanksgiving mass is also organised for couples who have completed 50 years of marriage. Eucharistic celebrations are held on the day of the feast and a decorated chariot with the image of Mother Mary is drawn by devotees along the various streets of Bangalore.

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