Tamil Nadu: Two injured after helium balloons burst during flag-hoisting ceremony at Velankanni shrine

During the flag-hoisting ceremony, helium balloons kept ready to be released into the sky suddenly burst, reportedly due to the heat. Two people who were holding the balloons sustained burn injuries in the incident.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson, Nagapattinam MP Selvaraj and District Collector Praveen Kumar, who were standing nearby, escaped unhurt.

The injured were admitted to Nagapattinam Government Hospital for treatment.

The annual festival of the Velankanni Basilica began on Saturday with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag, as lakhs of devotees gathered to offer prayers amid chants of "Long live Mary" reverberating through the air.

Thanjavur Diocese Bishop Sagayaraj blessed the flag, and it was hoisted with hymns praising Mother Mary.

The famous Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni, popularly known as the 'Lourdes of the East', celebrates the birthday of Mother Mary as its annual festival.

The 10-day annual festival of the Velankanni Shrine began with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag, marking the commencement of the celebrations.

As part of the festival, representatives of the Velankanni fishermen's panchayat carried the flag bearing the image of Mother Mary in a procession from the basilica through Beach Road and Arya Nattu Street on Saturday evening, in the presence of lakhs of devotees.

Subsequently, after Bishop Sagayaraj of the Diocese of Thanjavur blessed the flag, it was hoisted on the flagpole amid hymns praising Mother Mary, as devotees raised resounding chants of 'Long live Mary'.

Following the flag-hoisting ceremony, the towers of the Velankanni Basilica were illuminated with electric lights, while colourful fireworks lit up the sky.

Lakhs of devotees from abroad and various parts of India, including Mumbai, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, as well as different parts of Tamil Nadu, participated in the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Velankanni Shrine. (ANI)