EVERY July, the main trunk road off Jalan Kulim at Bukit Mertajam is closed off as pilgrims flock to St Anne’s Church to take part in the St Anne’s festival.
This 10-day festival, including the actual feast day on July 26 of the annual novena and feast, draws up to 100,000 pilgrims worldwide. It is one of the largest Catholic festivals in Southeast Asia.
Some 7,000 pilgrims from near and far flocked to the church to take part in a candlelight procession, walking behind a decorated float bearing the statues of St Anne (Jesus’ grandmother) and her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Anne is the patron of childless couples, homemakers and grandparents. She is invoked for safe and healthy childbirth.
Before the mass on Saturday, hundreds of women, children and men, dressed in their finery, stand at the foot of the steps of the church begging for money.
These are the people who have had their petitions honoured and are carrying out the tradition of begging on the church steps for the church. Their collection is dropped off at the donation box inside the church.
The original site was constructed in 1846 to serve the local Chinese and Indian Catholics and since then, multiple buildings have been being added. The whole site is known as the Sanctuary of St Anne and it is one of the largest churches in Malaysia and able to seat 2,200. – July 31, 2018.
Devotees queuing to enter the church to pray during the annual 10-day St Anne’s festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees queuing to enter the church to pray during the annual 10-day St Anne’s festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees queuing to enter the church to pray during the annual 10-day St Anne’s festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees queuing to enter the church to pray during the annual 10-day St Anne’s festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.A mass is held during the annual 10-day St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.A mass is held during the annual 10-day St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees walking behind the statue of St Anne and her daughter, Mary, during the annual parade at the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees walking behind the statue of St Anne and her daughter, Mary, during the annual parade at the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees walking behind the statue of St Anne and her daughter, Mary, during the annual parade at the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees walking with their candles and praying during the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees walking with their candles and praying during the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.Devotees praying during the St Anne's festival in Bukit Mertajam. – The Malaysian Insight pic David ST Loh, July 31, 2018.
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