Bangalore: A delegation from Mangalore met with chief minister Siddaramaiah and submitted a memorandum on Sep 1.
It urged him to declare a general holiday in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Sep 8, on which day a large number of Catholic Christians celebrate the birth of Mother Mary and also as a day of the new corn.
The delegation included prominent Catholic leaders and elected leaders of the districts like Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore, minister of health and family welfare U T Khader, minister of urban development Vinayakumar Sorake, fisheries, youth empowerment and sports minister K Abhayachandra Jain, Mangalore south MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D’Souza and former minister B A Moideen.
The memorandum points out that a very large number of Catholic Christians reside in the two districts and the feast is observed with special prayer services, procession and distribution of the new corn. The community attaches special significance to the occasion, hence the day be declared a general holiday in the two districts, added the memorandum, to which over 25,000 signatures have been affixed.
In response, the chief minister assured of further steps after consideration. On the basis of the Catholic Sabha of Mangalore, MLA J R Lobo has already submitted a memorandum to the government which has been forwarded by the deputy commissioner of DK.
Courtesy : Manglorean