Catholics are ready to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Madhu without any fear after 27 years. Under state patronage all arrangements are being made to hold the "Annual Madhu Feast" on a grand scale on August 15.

Over 500,000 devotees are expected to visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in the Mannar district to attend its annual feast.

The' Uthuru Vasanthaya' Task Force, in collaboration with the security forces and police has made elaborate arrangements to provide all facilities needed to cater to the pilgrims visiting the Madhu shrine to attend the annual feast", said Administrator of the Madhu church Rev. Fr. Desmond Kulas.

"Now all obstacles have been cleared, roads rehabilitated and the church well spruced up to ensure a grand and peaceful feast this year", he said.

The 12 km access road to the shrine which was in a dilapidated state is now being rehabilitated for the feast. '' Reconstruction of the roads within the Madhu shrine area has commenced at a cost of 157 million rupees ", said Public Estate Management and Development Minister, Milroy Fernando. The Government has also allocated Rs. 2 million to rehabilitate and refurbish the Madhu Post Office.

Any devotee could visit the shrine between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. from this Thursday (6) to Tuesday, (11). From 12th to 17th devotees could stay within the shrine premises. The pilgrims intending to visit the shrine would have to fill a form in triplicate and hand it over to the Army providing security at the entrance to the shrine. The forms could be obtained from all the churches islandwide.