The revered image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno returned to Quiapo Church in Manila shortly before noon on Saturday, ending a record-breaking Traslación that lasted nearly 31 hours.
According to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), more than 7.4 million devotees joined this year’s procession, the annual religious event marking the transfer of the miraculous image.
Authorities said the andas entered the church gates at 10:50 a.m., or 30 hours and 51 minutes after the procession began at 4 a.m. on Friday.
Wearing maroon shirts and many walking barefoot, devotees endured intense heat and massive crowds as the procession stretched far beyond its expected duration.
Officials attributed the slow pace to overwhelming turnout and logistical challenges, including a snapped rope and repeated crowd surges toward the andas.
Church and police authorities said the event was generally peaceful but acknowledged significant public safety strains.
Two devotees and a photojournalist covering the Traslación were reported dead, while medical teams attended to over 1,000 cases of heat-related and other minor injuries.
The January 9 feast commemorates the historic transfer of the image from Recoletos Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church. Believed by many to grant blessings and healing, the Jesus Nazareno continues to draw millions of faithful each year.
Despite the challenges, this year’s Traslación once again highlighted the enduring strength of Filipino religious devotion amid the realities of large-scale crowd management.