On Tuesday the Christian faithful of Udupi district gathered across churches to celebrate Mother Mary's birthday together with the traditional Teena festival, a nine‑day observance that reached its climax with new Teena offerings and flower tributes.
Children escorted fresh Teena stalks to the altars, while priests performed special prayers and Teena puja. In every parish, youngsters presented blossoms to a newly unveiled infant‑like statue of Mother Mary, a ritual that began nine days earlier and culminated on Tuesday as hundreds of children, elders and volunteers gathered around the statue placed at the front of the church.
Colourful flowers, incense and chants filled the sanctuaries, expressing devotion, gratitude and prayers for the protection of women. Vegetarian meals, featuring newly harvested rice, milk, coconut milk and payasa, were shared in homes, highlighting the community spirit.
Religious programmes unfolded in all churches of the district. While the district religious head Atty. Dr. Leslie Clifford Disoja was absent, retired religious leader Atty. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo blessed the new Teena at the Kalmaadi Stella Marie temple and delivered a message linking the festival to universal values such as gratitude, family bonding, forgiveness and respect for nature.
At the Udupi Shokamata Temple, priest V. Denis Desai led a special Bali puja, with V. Praveen Leo and V. Vijay Disoja in attendance. In Kalyanpura Milagris Cathedral, senior priest and rector Monsignor Francis Louis consecrated a fresh Teena and offered the holy Bali puja.
Early in the morning, rice Teena and millet were carried in procession to churches, where priests performed Teena puja before distributing the offerings to devotees. The rice was ground into flour, mixed with milk, coconut milk and payasa, creating a completely vegetarian feast that marked the day.
Other parishes, including Attur St. Lawrence Basilica under V. Alban Disoja, Kundapura Holy Rozi Church led by V. Paul Rago, and Shirva Arogya Mata Temple under V. Charles Minajus, also observed the Teena festival and Mother Mary's birthday with equal fervour, reinforcing the shared cultural heritage of coastal Karnataka.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi