This
year's band march from
Simirat
Street included what can be
described as the start of a new
tradition when
the old
statue of our Lady of Loreto,
popularly known as 'Il-Madonna
tad-Dar' which until a few years ago
was used in the demonstration march
at 'Tal-Balzunetta' in Mgarr Road
was carried by several youths to
Independence square where it was
then raised on a pedestal
among
the applause of the general public.
St
Joseph Band and Qala's 'Ite ad
Joseph' took part in this march
which then ended inside the band
club's premises.
The
location of the pedestal created a
sense of nostalgia as it was placed
on the same spot where it used to be
held back when it was still
Ghajnsielem's main square back in
the 19th and till the middle 20th
century. The pedestal is the same
one which until last year was used
in the main square.
The
statue was displayed last in public
in 2005 during Friday's
demonstration march because a year
later, it was replaced by a new
statue. The old statue, work of
Wistin Camilleri dates back to 1949.
It was restored last year by the St
Joseph Band and this year it finally
found its permanent home as it was
placed in a new niche inside the
newly refurbished hall at the band
club's premises.
