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Parishionars of Don Bosco Shrine, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad have celebrated Ugadi, the Telugu new year in a traditional manner with an intercultural Indian rite Mass on 11 of this month. The two hour long Holy Eucharistic Celebration initiated at 6:30 p.m. incorporated with Indian rituals gave a sense of meaning and oneness to the faithful. The parish priest Fr Papaiah attired himself in safron on this occasion as a guru and also welcomed the gathering to leave the pews to take their places on the mats. The Eucharist resembled the indian pooja in its outlook. Putting bindi on the participants forehead as a sign of welcome and sprinkling of turmeric water as a sign of purification and Arathi resembling the gratitude of the congregation to Pancha Buthas like earth, water, fire, air and ether are appealing to the congregation. Prayerful singing and the decorations in the church with green mongo leaves helped the faithful to pray well. As Church itself is calling for inculturation this initiative from the parish priest is welcomed and appreciated by all. After the eucharist people savored the Ugadi Pachidi, a sweet and sour chutney made of tantalizing ingredients like raw mango, tamarind, jaggery and neem flowers which signifies that life brings different experiences ranging from sweet to bitter. Therefore each individual should learn to take the different experiences in one's stride and move ahead.
R. Rohith
