Thousands throng first-ever Eucharistic procession in Agartala

(Nov.03,2009): The streets of Tripura’s capital city, Agartala in North-East India , came alive with prayers and songs of thousands of Catholic faithful that thronged its busy streets on Tuesday morning for the first state level Eucharistic Procession held in the town. The program organized by All Indian Catholic Union, AICU Tripura, brought together over five thousand believers from the 16 parishes of Agartala diocese, for what it’s Bishop Lumen Monteiro called, “a manifestation of faith”.
“It was an occasion for us to accompany the Lord through the streets of our city, and ask him to bless this land and every person living on it, and bring peace and happiness into everyone’s life,” said Bishop Monteiro, who accompanied the Blessed Sacrament atop a well decorated float throughout the two-hour long procession, covering a 3 kilometre route. The procession which touched all imptant areas of the town, began with a Session of Bible Preaching and prayer at the city’s Stables Grounds. Two hours later, when the procession returned to Stables Grounds, Bishop Monteiro imparted the final blessing.
Paul Darlong, Chief Organizer and Tripura representative of AICU, thanked everyone for making the event a success. The Catholics of the 13-year old Diocese, belong mostly to the Indigenous population, who form 31.5% of Tripura’s 3 million people.