Karkala: Here is a devotee who has proved that love is above any religion or caste. A devotee who has been offering selfless candle service at the famous St Lawrence shrine from last 40 years.
Dadu, who is in his 70’s, belongs to a Dalit community at the Chetana Halli in Attur.

He has been offering candle service along with 30 members of his team for years now. He says that he has simply continued the work started by his father.

Amidst the communal tensions that have gripped the nation for years now, Dadu is indeed an example of love, brotherhood and tolerance, according to people who have been seeing him work selflessly at the shrine.

Huge crowds gather to offer prayers, celebrate

Devotees on Tuesday, irrespective of religion, visited the miraculous Attur pond and offered prayers. Devotees were also seen taking holy water from the pond in their bottles.

Volunteers and police security personnels made arrangenments for the smooth functioning of the feast and also to ensure that the devotees move towards the pond without any hindrances.

On January 26 Varanasi bishop offered mass at 4.30pm and at 6pm Bellary bishop offered Kannada mass.

Devotees and pilgrims thronged to St. Lawrence at Attur shrine on Republic Day. Early morning private buses from Mangaluru-Moodabidri-Karkala, Mangaluru-Padubidri-Karkala and Udupi-Karkala buses were filled with devotees heading to the famous shrine.

Parking facility was arranged for the vehicles few meters away from the shrine.