Grand Christmas celebrations amid Covid fears in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: After two years of pandemic, devotees celebrated Christmas in a grand manner at St Mary’s Basilica in Shivaji Nagar in the shadow of Covid on Sunday.

Thousands of devotees offered prayers in the morning at the church and also took part in the midnight mass.

Most of the devotees were not followed Covid appropriate behaviour.

After the BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron was detected in India, the Health Department recently advised taking precautionary measures and following Covid-appropriate behaviour during celebration. However, only a few devotees kept wearing masks in church; others did not wear masks and did not even maintain social distance.

The basilica is 140 years old. The Roman Catholic church is the first in the state that was elevated to the status of a minor basilica.

Megha, said, I will pray God to bless all with good health and prosperity.

One of the devotees, Megha, said, “We are celebrating Christmas this year in a grand manner and all family members are gathered over here. After offering prayers at the church, we will go out shopping and eat out. Then we will spend time with our relatives and friends. We have not been able to celebrate Christmas in the last two years. I wish and pray that God bless good health for all”.