Feast of the Assumption on August 15 |13 August 2016

Big crowd expected on La Digue this weekend

The August 15 Feast of the Assumption will this year provide a very long weekend for the thousands who are set to travel to the island of La Digue.

The La Digue religious feast is one of the most popular in Seychelles and for years it has attracted thousands for the high Mass celebrated by the Roman Catholic Bishop as well as for the festival-like celebrations that take place at La Passe, the main centre of the island.

New this year for the opening ceremony will be a regrouping of La Digue musicians coming from all over the islands and they will have the honour of performing and officially launching their island's 2016 celebrations.

With night fairs and Bal Kreol, as well as the traditional yacht race from Mahé to La Digue, musical shows by Joseph Sinon as well as one by Philip Toussaint and Marie-Antoinette Dodin, a bicycle race, a La Digue Relay Challenge and a triathlon competition and sega contest and beach party, the organising committee said that the four-day celebrations on the island will this year be full of fun once again. Even a Children's Village at the Fun Park has been organised for this August 15 feast.

The highlight of the event will be the Mass at Saint Mary's Church at 9am on Monday August 15 which will be celebrated by Roman Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe. This year also marks the 15th anniversary of Bishop Wiehe's episcopal ordination.

Hotels and guest houses on the island have been putting stop sales declaring full occupancy and the ferry service from Mahé is said to be full even with the many extra runs that have been programmed.