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Ocean of People witness Annual Jatra Mahotsav of Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Health, Harihara

Harihara - Davanagere, September 8, 2025 : Annual Feast of Harihara Matha, Minor Basilica, which is known as the "Feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary," was celebrated at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Health, Harihara, in a grand manner on September 8. An ocean of people from all corners of Karnataka, as well as outside Karnataka, witnessed the Annual Jatra Mahotsav of Harihar Matha Basilica. Every street of Harihar Town was filled with people.

The theme for the feast of our lady of health this year 2025 was - "Mother Mary - Our Mother of Hope". (ಮಾತೆ ಮೇರಿ - ನಮ್ಮ ಭರವಸೆಯ ತಾಯಿ) The festal celebration commenced with the flag hoisting on 30th August 2024 at 5:30pm by Most Rev. Dr Duming Dias, Bishop of Diocese of Karwar with a large number of devotees.

The novenas were held from 30th August to 7th September 2024 at 5:30pm along with the Recitation of the Rosary in procession, Novena prayers, floral homage and celebration of Holy Eucharist with preaching on a given theme by the main celebrant & the healing adoration with benediction.

The Annual Feast of Harihar Matha Basilica was celebrated with great fervor from August 30 to September 8, 2025. Here’s a detailed report on the events:

Day 1: August 30, 2025
The feast began with the hoisting of the flag by Most Rev. Dr. Duming Dias, Bishop of the Diocese of Karwar. He emphasized that "Hope never disappoints us" (ಭರವಸೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಎಂದಿಗೂ ನಿರಾಸೆಗೊಳಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ).

Day 2: August 31, 2025
Rev. Fr. Paul D’Souza, Parish Priest of Balehonnur, Diocese of Chikmagalur, offered the Holy Eucharist. His homily focused on "The foundation of hope lies in prayer" (ಭರವಸೆಯ ಅಡಿಪಾಯ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ).

Day 3: September 1, 2025
Monsignor Very Rev. Fr. Elias Sequiera, Vicar General of the Diocese of Chikmagalur, celebrated the Holy Eucharist. He highlighted that "The comfort of Jesus Christ is the key to hope" (ಯೇಸು ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತನ ಸಾಂತ್ವನವು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯ ಕೀಲಿಯಾಗಿದೆ).

Day 4: September 2, 2025
Rev. Fr. Clarence Dias, Parish Priest of Holy Family Church, Chitradurga, offered the Holy Eucharist. The theme was "The lives of saints and devotees are an example of a life of hope" (ಭರವಸೆಯ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂತ ಭಕ್ತರ ಜೀವನ ಒಂದು ನಿದರ್ಶನ).

Day 5: September 3, 2025
Rev. Fr. Leo Florence SJ, Mundagod, celebrated the Holy Eucharist. He preached on "The silent meditation of the mother is the model for hope" (ಭರವಸೆಗೆ ಮಾತೆಯ ಮೌನ ಧ್ಯಾನವೇ ಮಾದರಿ).

Day 6: September 4, 2025
Rev. Fr. Santhosh Dias, Director of CBCI Health Commission, St. John’s Bengaluru, offered the Holy Eucharist. His homily focused on "Strong stances are an example of hope" (ಭರವಸೆಗೆ ಸದೃಢ ನಿಲುವುಗಳೇ ನಿದರ್ಶನ).

Day 7: September 5, 2025
Rev. Fr. Santosh Pereira, Rector of Vianney Minor Seminary, Diocese of Shimoga, offered the Holy Eucharist. He emphasized that "God’s Word is the inspiration for hope" (ಭರವಸೆಗೆ ದೇವ ವಾಕ್ಯವೇ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ).

Day 8: September 6, 2025
Rev. Fr. Peter Asheevad, Director of Belgaum Diocesan Social Work Service, offered the Holy Eucharist. His homily centered on "Sacraments are the foundations of hope" (ಭರವಸೆಗೆ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರಗಳೇ ಮೂಲಧಾರ).

Day 9: September 7, 2025
Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mysore, was the main celebrant. The theme was "Mother Mary is a beacon of hope" and "hope is a ray of inspiration for evangelizers" (ಭರವಸೆಯು ಸುವಾರ್ತಾ ಪ್ರಸಾರಕರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೇರಣಾ ಕಿರಣ).

Feast Day: September 8, 2025
The feast day culminated with Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga, as the main celebrant. The theme was "Mother Mary - Our Mother of Hope" (ಮಾತೆ ಮೇರಿ - ನಮ್ಮ ಭರವಸೆಯ ತಾಯಿ).

The Feast of Nativity of Our Lady of Health was celebrated on 8th September 2024. The Feast day began with the celebration of Holy Eucharist from 5:15am in Kannada, 6:15am in Telugu, 7:15am in Malayalam (Syro Malabar Rite) by Most Rev. Dr Joseph Arumachadath, Bishop of Diocese of Bhadravati, 8:45am in Tamil, 10am in English by Most Rev. Dr Duming Dias, Bishop of Karwar, 11am festal Mass in Kannada by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Diocese of Shimoga. At 1:15pm Mass in Konkani by Most Rev. Duming Dias, 2:30pm healing adoration by Fr Franklin D’Souza and Fr Roman Pinto. 4pm Mass in Kannada, 5pm Solemn procession and 7:30pm Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist in Kannada.

In the evening the chariot decorated with Chrysanthemum was blessed by Rev. Fr George K. A., Rector and Parish Priest at 5:00pm and was taken in procession in the prominent streets of Harihar Town. As the procession moved people belonging to the other religions stood on either side to have a Darshan of the Mother and receive blessings. The roads were cleaned and decorated with rangoli.

Thousands of devotees received the special graces and blessings showered on them and their families through the Devotion of Mother Mary. Lakhs of devotees of Mother Mary flocked together with all their petitions and thanksgiving for the favours they received.

Rev. Fr George K. A, Rector of Our Lady of Health Basilica, thanked all those who helped in making this feast a success.

History of Minor Basilica of Harihar:

History has it from time immemorial that, according to tradition, a non-Christian devotee, while taking a bath, accidentally fell into the swelling river Tungabhadra, on whose banks Harihar is now situated. Being on the verge of drowning and in great fear of death, he saw the floating statue of Our Lady of Health and caught hold of it, and that eventually saved his life. Thereafter, on reaching home, his wife and children, on touching the statue of Our Lady of Health, were miraculously and providentially healed of their diseases – tuberculosis and paralysis, respectively.

Then onwards he dedicated himself completely to the service of Our Lady and his house to the glory of the Mother. Soon after his death, he was laid to rest in a place where his house existed. Later on, that same house was converted into a church, which is situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. This shrine has been frequented by the people of Karnataka, irrespective of caste, language, and religion. No doubt, it can surely be called the “Vailankanni of Karnataka”. Then in 1833, Fr. Bigot is reported to have built a prayer hall in Harihar.

During the annual feast, the original statue of Mother Mary is installed in a place adjacent to the church. People form a queue spreading around 2 to 3 kilometers, waiting patiently for their turn to have a darshan of Mother Mary, holding coconuts, candles, flowers, and offerings with the intention of placing them at the foot of Mother Mary and receiving blessings.

Harihar is a town situated in the Davangere District of Karnataka. Erstwhile Mysore Kings were followed by the British. Harihar, though belonging to Mysore state, was part of the Chitradurga Division. Later on, in 1875 AD, the British Government brought together a few adjacent villages under Harihar and formed it a taluk center with the establishment of a taluk office.

A new church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was built on August 31, 1992, by Rev. Fr. Jesu Rakshaka Nadhan and inaugurated by Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Pinto, then Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga.

On May 27, 2012, during the time of Rev. Fr. Stany D’Souza, with the efforts of then Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo (presently Bishop of Udupi), the Shrine was officially declared a Diocesan Shrine of the Diocese of Shimoga.

During the time of Rev. Fr. Anthony Peter and with the efforts of the present Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, SJ, the Vatican raised the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar, to the status of a Minor Basilica on September 18, 2019.

This is the third shrine in Karnataka to have received the status of Minor Basilica after St. Mary’s Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of Bangalore and St. Lawrence Minor Basilica in the Diocese of Udupi. The official celebration of this milestone was held on January 15, 2020, with Holy Eucharist celebrated by CCBI President His Eminence Cardinal Philip Neri, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, together with the Bishops of Karnataka.