Annual feast of Our Lady of Health Basilica, Harihar, Davanagere District, Diocese of Shimoga Christianity has a long history in the state of Karnataka. The history of Our Lady of Health Church dates back to the 18th century. A new Church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was built on 31st August 1992. On 27th May 2012, the shrine was officially declared as a Diocesan Shrine of the Diocese of Shimoga. The Vatican has raised the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar to the status of a Minor Basilica on 18th September 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 15th January 2020. Festival of Our Lady of Good Health: The feast of Our Lady of Good Health is celebrated every year on September 8th – on the day of Nativity. There is a chariot procession carrying the statue of Our Lady of Good Health. The Chariot would be decked with (Sevanthige) Chrysanthemum flowers sourced from Arsikere. This year’s festival begins on August 30th. Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Diocese of Shimoga will hoist the flag of Blessed Virgin Mary. Shri. S. S. Mallikarjun, Hon’ble Minister of Mine & Geology and Horticulture, Government of Karnataka will be the chief guest. From August 30th to September 7th, every day at 5:30pm there will be procession, Novena, Floral Homage, Holy Eucharist, Adoand healing prayer for the Sick will be led by different priests. On September 7th evening 5:30pm Mass will be offered by Most Rev. Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of Diocese of Gulbarga. Then there will be Adoration and healing service led by Fr Franklin D’Souza, Fr Roman Pinto and Bro. T. K. George. On September 8th festal day there will be Masses in various languages. 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, 11am festal Mass by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Diocese of Shimoga. At 1:15pm Mass in Konkani, 2:30pm healing adoration by Yesusparsha Team. 4pm Mass in Kannada, 5pm Solemn procession, 7pm Mass in Kannada. Rev. Fr George K A, Rector of Our Lady of Health Basilica had already made all preparations together with the faithful of Harihar.
