THREE LAKH ATTEND HAREGAON’S MATMAULI YATRA

THREE LAKH ATTEND HAREGAON’S MATMAULI YATRA

Correspondent
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 AT 10:42 AM (IST)
Tags: Ahmednagar, Haregaon, Christians, Matmauli yatra, church, yatra
Over three lakh Christians from different parts of the State participated in the two-day Matmauli yatra, which concluded at Haregaon in Shrirampur taluka of Ahmednagar district on Sunday.
The Matmauli yatra is celebrated at the St Teresa Church every year on the Saturday and Sunday after September 8, the feast of Mother Mary's birthday.
The high mass at the yatra was celebrated by Amravati Bishop Lourdes Daniel on September 11 evening in the presence of over hundred priests from Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad districts.
This was the 62ndyear of the Matmauli yatra launched by a German Jesuit Gerhard Baadar in 1948 for the poor faithfuls, who could not afford to attend Mount Mary feast at Bandra in Mumbai.
The golden jubilee anniversary celebrations of the yatra was held two years ago.
Over the years, the number of faithfuls attending the yatra has swelled to a few lakhs, creating tremendous pressures on the government administration and the church. For the last few years, the Church authorities have been appealing to the devouts to leave the Church premises soon after attending the religious services.
Church authorities on Saturday cancelled the procession of the statue of Mother Mary in view of large assembly of pilgrims and narrow village roads, thus giving much relief to the police.
The week-long annual feast of Mount Mary held at Bandra in Mumbai for a week, starting on the Sunday after September 8, is the largest congregation of the Christian community in the State.
The Haregaon yatra, on the other hand, is the largest assembly of Christians in western Maharashtra and Marathwada. Haregaon pilgrim centre is therefore, often described as the Pandharpur of the Marathi-speaking Christians.

Matmauli pilgrimage in Haregaon starts today

Saturday, September 18, 1999

Indian Express
Matmauli pilgrimage starts today

Camil Parkhe

PUNE, Sept 17: Preparations are in full swing for theannual yatra of Matmauli which will be held at Harigaon inShrirampur taluka of Ahmednagar district on September 18and 19. Over a lakh Christians from different parts ofMaharashtra are expected to assemble at the pilgrim centre,described as the Pandharpur of the Marathi-speakingChristians in the state.The feast celebrations are organised every year tocommemorate the birthday of Mother Mary which falls onSeptember 8. For the convenience of outstation pilgrims,the yatra is held on the Saturday and Sunday succeedingSeptember 8. This year, the yatra was postponed by a weekon account of polling on September 11.
The annual feast of Mount Mary, held at Bandra in Mumbaion September 8, is the largest congregation of the Christiancommunity living in the urban areas of the State. TheHarigaon yatra, on the other hand, is the largest assembly ofthe Marathi-speaking Christians in the State. Christianity inwestern Maharashtra is over 140 years old. The goldenjubilee anniversary celebrations of the Matmauli yatra wereheld last year.The yatra of Matmauli or Blessed Virgin Mary was startedon September 8, 1948 by Fr. Gerhard Baader, a German Jesuit who was the then parish priest at Harigaon village. He hadstarted the yatra for the convenience of poor Christians iwho could not afford to attend the Mount Mary feast celebrations at Bandra. This yatra has become one of themost important events for Christians. Fr. Baader died 18months ago at the ripe age of 94. The main event will be themass concelebrated by Bishop of Nashik Thomas Bhaleraoand over 100 priests on the evening of September 18