1.3 million Nazareno faithful flock to Quirino Grandstand

Catholic devotees jostle with each other as they try to touch a glass-covered carriage carrying the Black Nazarene during an annual religious procession in Manila on January 9, 2024. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — More than 1.3 million devotees flocked to the Quirino Grandstand, where the procession for the image of the Black Nazarene began.

As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, the Quiapo Church Command Post said in its report that 1,340,000 devotees were in the grandstand.

The image of the Black Nazarene was displayed there for the “Pahalik,” during which devotees were allowed to touch and kiss the image.

READ: Some Nazarene devotees figure in minor medical cases at Quirino Grandstand

The carriage of the Black Nazarene departed from Quirino Grandstand at around 4:45 a.m. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr. presided over a “Misa Mayor” before the beginning of the procession.

The Black Nazarene carriage departed from Quirino Grandstand at around 4:45 a.m.

Despite the discouragement from the church, many devotees still touched the protruding part of the glass-encased wooden image of Jesus Christ.

As of posting, the procession is still ongoing.

READ: Nazareno 2024: Traslacion Live Updates of the Feast of Black Nazarene

The annual procession is a reenactment of the 1787 Traslacion — literally means “solemn transfer” — of the image from its original shrine in Bagumbayan, the present Rizal Park, to the Quiapo Church.

The original statue of Black Nazarene was carved from mesquite wood by an unknown sculptor. It arrived in Manila from Mexico on May 31, 1606.

The image was partially destroyed in 1945 during the battle for Manila in the Second World War. A replica, made by a renowned saint carver, Gener Manlaqui, used the original head of the image.