A grand feast of Vanachinnappa celebrated at Mailasandra

Mailasandra ..Vanachinnppa… Oh these may sound new names to you. If so listen… Mailasandra is tiny hamlet situated next to Begur. It was once upon a time a substation of Begur church. But today it has its own dignity as an independent parish with a beautifully carved church. A passerby cannot but admire the beauty of this church which is replica of Velankani church. What is the life of this parish? It is those simple, humble, poor, hardworking and generous people who ask not what the church can do for them but what they can do for the church. Vanachinnappa feast is a celebration of the life of parish where all rich and poor come together as a community and share the family meal.

Vanachinnapa is the most honoured saint of the parish. He is the protector of people, land and cattle shielding them from all evil. People may not have enough to eat but they will not forgo to pay their tribute to this revered, protector saint once a year, inviting people from all neighbouring parishes and feeding them stomach full with mutton biriyani.

The feast this year saw a sea of devotees from all places coming and sharing in the joy of parishioners. Fr. Balaraj, the Ireland retuned, was the High Priest of the Mass. The place was beautifully decorated in the ‘vana’ of the parish. Fr.Balaraj touched the hearts of the people with his moving homily. All the concelebrants were honoured after the Mass. All were given a badakhana after the Mass. Fr. Frankie Noronha who was a man behind, feels deeply satisfied at the response and the cooperation of the people and rightly says, “This is my last grand celebration in Mailasandra!”