Ash Wednesday was observed at Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte on Wednesday, March 9..." />
Mangalore, March 9: Ash Wednesday was observed at Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte on Wednesday, March 9.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the 40-day Lent season.
On Ash Wednesday, the Catholic flock is called to fast and abstain from eating meat or even eating more. The sick and those too young or too old are exempted from this practice.
On the eve of Ash Wednesday, parishes collect used up palms and burn them to ashes to be used to mark the foreheads of the faithful.
As the priest marks the ash on one’s forehead, he then says “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.