Largest Catholic Christian pilgrimage festival ends in Sherpur

One of South Asia’s largest pilgrimage festivals of the Catholic Christian community has ended in Sherpur amid religious solemnity, prayer and celebration. The two-day pilgrimage festival concluded yesterday with a High Mass at St Leo’s Parish, Baromari, in the Garo hills of Nalitabari upazila, Sherpur.

On the night of the day before yesterday, devotees walked about two kilometres of winding hill path with candles in their hands, seeking the blessing of Our Lady of Fatima. Prayers were on their lips. Some prayed for their hopes to be fulfilled, others in the hope of forgiveness of sins and spiritual peace. The light of candles burning along the dark hill path made a beautiful sight, and local residents and visitors crowded in to watch it.

Earlier, on the day before yesterday at 3pm, the formal programme of the pilgrimage began with Mass and prayers. In the evening came a procession of lights, High Mass, confession and an all-night vigil. The next morning, yesterday, various religious rites were observed, including the Living Way of the Cross.

The theme of this year’s festival was “Our Lady of Fatima, Mother of Humanity”. Christians came from various districts of Bangladesh as well as from different countries of South Asia. According to the organisers, more than 30,000 devotees and visitors took part. The Bishop of the Diocese of Mymensingh, Ponen Paul Cubi CSC, served as chief celebrant.

Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Ms Farida Yasmin, Superintendent of Police A K M Zahirul Islam, Nalitabari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Malek, and officials of various levels of the local administration and law enforcement agencies were present.

A village fair was set up in the field beside the parish for the festival. Traders laid out a variety of goods there, including Christian religious items, traditional clothing of Garo women, bangles and necklaces, household items, food and children’s toys. Alongside the religious programme, the fair also drew a large crowd of visitors.

According to the organisers, St Leo’s Parish, Baromari, was established in 1942 on 42 acres of land. In 1998, the late Bishop Francis A Gomes declared the place the “Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima”. Since then, the pilgrimage festival has been held every year on the last Thursday and Friday of October. About 30,000 to 40,000 Roman Catholic pilgrims from home and abroad take part.

Father Torun Banowari of Baromari Mission told Daily Inqilab, “As in other years, the weather was favourable this time too. As the situation in the country was also good, we were able to celebrate the programme with solemnity. Christian devotees came to the mission field from different parts of the country.

Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Ms Farida Yasmin and the district’s Superintendent of Police A K M Zahirul Islam visited the festival venue and gave overall support.”