Vailankanni
Encyclopedia
Velankanni officially spelled as Vailankanni (Virgin of Velai, the town), also spelled as "Velanganni" (due to Tamil to English Transliteration
), is a Parish
under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese and a panchayat town
in Nagapattinam district in the India
n state
of Tamil Nadu
. It is a small town
located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal
350 km south of Chennai
(Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam
on the Coromandel Coast
, in Tamil Nadu
, India
.
Once a port
that traded with Rome
and Greece
, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger Nagapattinam. The canal
built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west of Velankanni. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs on the south of this town discharges into the sea
.
Here located an important Roman Catholic shrine
dedicated to Our lady of Good Health
.
, Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Velankanni has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. In Velankanni, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
s: the apparition of Mary and the Christ
Child to a slumbering shepherd
boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk
vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese
sailors from a violent sea storm.
Although all three apparitions resulted in the erection of a shrine
to our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that caused a permanent edifice to be built at Velankanni. The chapel
was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrim
s each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "Lourdes
of the East", is one of the most frequented religious sites in India
. Velankanni church
(Our Lady of Good Health) was built in the late 16th century CE with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of pilgrimages.
The Gothic
style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture
. While the buildings have been painted white, roof of the church is made by the tiles with striking red in contrast to the colour of the walls. The environment around the shrine is spic and span radiating rays of hope and piety.
As a token of gratitude to Mother Mary, Portuguese sailors
who escaped from a severe cyclone
, built the chapel 24 feet to 12 feet with a dome overhead. In their possible subsequent visits, perhaps they brought porcelain plates, which could be seen even now illustrating bible scenes and other cultural arts of the time, to beautify the Church they had built earlier. The main statue that they had brought to the altar of the Shrine was Our Lady holding the Baby Jesus, standing majestically on the globe.
In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a Parish
with Fr. Antonio de Rozario as the First Parish Priest.
Velankanni church was raised to the status of basilica
in 1962 by His Holiness Pope John XXIII
.
Festivals are celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety. Every year on August 29 the feast of our lady commences with the hoisting of the flag and on the 10th day it ends after the dismounting of the flag. A conservative estimate of the crowd is around 1.5 million on these days (Fifteen hundred thousands). Hotels and houses will be overcrowded during these days and people used to sleep in the open air. Holy masses are conducted in at least eight languages, Tamil
, English
, Malayalam
, Kannada
, Telugu
, Konkani
, Hindi and Marathi
.
The Government, for security duty of the feast sends a contingent of 500 police officers, 10 DSPs, 25 Inspectors, 40 SISs and 60 women police. Over and above the Shrine spends enormous amount of money in deploying additional watchmen, sweepers and other work force. A sizable sum is also spent in supplying potable water, and keeping the place clean.
The shrine
built a big hall of Museum
to display the offering
s. Periodically this is changed and the new ones are kept in the showcases.
Velankanni church is considered a very powerful holy place in India where one is cured of any medical ailment when one offers prayers with a true heart. Devotees often offer a gift made of gold, silver etc., in the shape of the body part in which they have a medical ailment to God, in thanks for being cured. For example, a person with a heart condition may offer prayers and promise to donate a heart shaped gift made of gold to the church when he or she is cured, and when that happens, they fulfill their promise. It is also possible to offer monetary donations within the church, by dropping such monetary donations into a drop box available for this purpose. People of all religions come to visit this church, and offer prayers. Regardless of their race, religion or other consideration, devotees state that prayers and requests made with a sincere heart are always granted. There is a rectangular mud section leading to the old church, where some devotees can walk on their knees for some distance to show their gratitude for favors they have received, or to make a request by showing some sacrifice on their part first. The church is open from early in the morning to late in the evening, and there are services in various local languages available to devotees throughout the day.
style of architecture. The southern side was extended in 1928 and northern in 1933. The Shrine Basilica contains three chapels, Our Lady's Tank, Church Museum, Priests' Residence, Offering Center, Stations of the Cross
, Stations of the Rosary
, Shrine Mega Mahal and Vailankanni Beach. The building is totally painted in white, except for the roof that is made of tiles of striking red color.
. Right over the center of the ancient main altar was the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Health.
, delicately executed in spotless white marble, was erected replacing the former one made of cement concrete.
and 82 feet (25 m) high gothic spirals. The extension was designed to resemble the Basilica
in Lourdes, France.
, Malayalam
, Telugu
, Kannada
, Konkani
, Hindi
and English
.
and 14 km south of Nagapattinam
on the Coramandal coast, at 10.40°N 79.49°E in Nagapattinam district of Tamil nadu
state.
Late August to middle of September is the peak season as the festival is conducted. Millions of pilgrims will be attending the car festival held on 8 September every year. Visiting Velankanni during festival time will be a fun than a pilgrimage.
During April, May and June it will be very hot due to summer, as well as crowded due to holiday seasons. More number of tourists visit the church than pilgirms in this season.
November will see the Church almost empty during afternoons as cyclone used to stop the flow of pilgrims. October, November and February,March is the perfect time as the church will be less crowded and the climate will also be good.
, Kerala
, Karnataka
or Andhra Pradesh
. The highways connecting Cities with Velankanni are reasonably good and well maintained.
' pass through this town.
Many pilgrims walk from Puththoor to Veilankanni as a thanks giving or to petition to the Mother to fulfil their prayers.
daily in the morning and evening. Now there also exists Velankanni Express Train (No:17315) from Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG) in Goa to Velankanni(VLKN) and Velankanni-VSG Express Train (No:17316) from Velankanni(VLKN) to Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG).
Nagapattinam
, which is just 12 km away using seashore road or 18 km using proper road, is well rail-connected to all major cities in India through Chennai
and Trichy. Taxi services can be availed from Nagapattinam to Velankanni for a charge of about 250.
, Cochin, Mumbai
, Bangalore
, Madurai
, Coimbatore
, Singapore
, Kuala Lumpur
etc., as well as many international flights. Taxi services are available from Tiruchirappalli to Velankanni for a fare of 2000 approx. for an INDICA Cab.
During the months of January, April, May, June, August, September, December and during every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, getting an accommodation is very tough, as lots of pilgrims pour in there.
List of hotels/lodges in Velankanni:
There are several other hotels and lodges in different budgets available. Guest houses are also available at very affordable cost. Church-owned rooms will be cheap in terms of price and maintenance. All quality guest houses, avoid giving rooms to singles. Carrying ID cards, return tickets can help to get rooms easily. This is because of increase in number of suicide cases registered in Velankanni and most of the cases relate to people travelled as single.
Daily Services
Every Morning
Every Evening
Weekly Services
Thursday Evenings
All Saturdays
in 1771. Many of these priests later became Bishop for Diocese of Tanjore
- Aazhip Peralai that came on December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
. Worst started happening at around 9.30 am on the evil Sunday. As the 8 am Tamil Mass was over, pilgrims from Kerala were inside the church to attend the Malayalam Mass. Sea water rising up to 5 feet even near Bus Stand area washed almost all who were standing near the beaches. thousands of pilgrims were dead and they were buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church.,
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
), is a Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese and a panchayat town
Panchayati Raj
The panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
in Nagapattinam district in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is a small town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
350 km south of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
on the Coromandel Coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
, in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Once a port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
that traded with Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger Nagapattinam. The canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west of Velankanni. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs on the south of this town discharges into the sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
.
Here located an important Roman Catholic shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
dedicated to Our lady of Good Health
Our Lady of Good Health
Our lady of Good Health, popularly called "Our Lady of Vailankanni" is artributed to Mary, mother of Jesus, in the small town of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. A Basilica artributed to both Portuguese and Indians stands in and around the sites of the...
.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Velankanni has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. In Velankanni, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Velankanni can be traced to the mid-16th century and is attributed to three miracleMiracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s: the apparition of Mary and the Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
Child to a slumbering shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk
Buttermilk
Buttermilk refers to a number of dairy drinks. Originally, buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream. It also refers to a range of fermented milk drinks, common in warm climates where unrefrigerated fresh milk otherwise sours quickly...
vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
sailors from a violent sea storm.
Although all three apparitions resulted in the erection of a shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
to our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that caused a permanent edifice to be built at Velankanni. The chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "Lourdes
Lourdes
Lourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
of the East", is one of the most frequented religious sites in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Velankanni church
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located at the small town of Velankanni in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The Roman Catholic Basilica is devoted to Our Lady of Good Health...
(Our Lady of Good Health) was built in the late 16th century CE with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of pilgrimages.
The Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. While the buildings have been painted white, roof of the church is made by the tiles with striking red in contrast to the colour of the walls. The environment around the shrine is spic and span radiating rays of hope and piety.
As a token of gratitude to Mother Mary, Portuguese sailors
Sailors
Sailors is the plural form of Sailor, or mariner.Sailors may also refer to:*Sailors , a 1964 Swedish film*Ken Sailors , American basketball playerSports teams*Erie Sailors, baseball teams in Pennsylvania, USA...
who escaped from a severe cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
, built the chapel 24 feet to 12 feet with a dome overhead. In their possible subsequent visits, perhaps they brought porcelain plates, which could be seen even now illustrating bible scenes and other cultural arts of the time, to beautify the Church they had built earlier. The main statue that they had brought to the altar of the Shrine was Our Lady holding the Baby Jesus, standing majestically on the globe.
In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
with Fr. Antonio de Rozario as the First Parish Priest.
Velankanni church was raised to the status of basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
in 1962 by His Holiness Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
.
Festivals are celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety. Every year on August 29 the feast of our lady commences with the hoisting of the flag and on the 10th day it ends after the dismounting of the flag. A conservative estimate of the crowd is around 1.5 million on these days (Fifteen hundred thousands). Hotels and houses will be overcrowded during these days and people used to sleep in the open air. Holy masses are conducted in at least eight languages, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
, Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Konkani
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
, Hindi and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
.
The Government, for security duty of the feast sends a contingent of 500 police officers, 10 DSPs, 25 Inspectors, 40 SISs and 60 women police. Over and above the Shrine spends enormous amount of money in deploying additional watchmen, sweepers and other work force. A sizable sum is also spent in supplying potable water, and keeping the place clean.
The shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
built a big hall of Museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
to display the offering
Offering
Offering may refer to:* Offering, a collection of donations during religious worship, see alms, tithe or charity* Offering, a religious sacrifice of plant, animal or human life* Offering , a part of devotional practice*Phan...
s. Periodically this is changed and the new ones are kept in the showcases.
Velankanni church is considered a very powerful holy place in India where one is cured of any medical ailment when one offers prayers with a true heart. Devotees often offer a gift made of gold, silver etc., in the shape of the body part in which they have a medical ailment to God, in thanks for being cured. For example, a person with a heart condition may offer prayers and promise to donate a heart shaped gift made of gold to the church when he or she is cured, and when that happens, they fulfill their promise. It is also possible to offer monetary donations within the church, by dropping such monetary donations into a drop box available for this purpose. People of all religions come to visit this church, and offer prayers. Regardless of their race, religion or other consideration, devotees state that prayers and requests made with a sincere heart are always granted. There is a rectangular mud section leading to the old church, where some devotees can walk on their knees for some distance to show their gratitude for favors they have received, or to make a request by showing some sacrifice on their part first. The church is open from early in the morning to late in the evening, and there are services in various local languages available to devotees throughout the day.
Other Titles
Our Lady of Good Health is also referred to as:- Velankanni Matha- Mother Velankanni
- Arokia Matha Mother of Good Health
- Velankanni Amma
- Punitha Arokia Annai- Saint Mother of Good Health
Basilica Architecture
The Basilica is built in GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style of architecture. The southern side was extended in 1928 and northern in 1933. The Shrine Basilica contains three chapels, Our Lady's Tank, Church Museum, Priests' Residence, Offering Center, Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, Stations of the Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
, Shrine Mega Mahal and Vailankanni Beach. The building is totally painted in white, except for the roof that is made of tiles of striking red color.
Southern side
Early part of 20th century marked rivalry between Jesuits and Franciscans on influence on the missionary in Velankanni. In 1928 a solution was found to this problem. The church of Immaculate Heart of Mary (managed by the Jesuits) was demolished and the statues were brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health, eventually in 1933 the Shrine expanded with two new wings, to the right and to the left of the 'Main Altar', meeting the nave at right angles.Northern side
A spacious vestry was also provided immediately behind the Altar. Thus the entire sacred edifice began to assume the shape of a Latin CrossChristian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
. Right over the center of the ancient main altar was the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Health.
Shrine altar
In 1956, a new welcome arch was blessed and opened by Bishop Sundaram. The illuminated arch stood to show the way to the eager pilgrims, who sought the protection of Mary. In January 1961, a new central altarAltar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
, delicately executed in spotless white marble, was erected replacing the former one made of cement concrete.
Extension basilica-altar
In 1974-75, an extension of the basilica was built behind the existing central altar to accommodate the multilingual pilgrims. The extension included a two storied church with 93 feet (28.3 m) high domeDome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
and 82 feet (25 m) high gothic spirals. The extension was designed to resemble the Basilica
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes or the Domain is an area of ground surrounding the shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes in the town of Lourdes, France...
in Lourdes, France.
Morning Star Church
A new, magnificent church that is coming up on the northern side of the Holy Path. Named after a popular Marian invocation, the Morning Star Church is meant to be a monumental abode for Our Lady, besides serving other liturgical purposes. At whopping measurements - 400 feet long, 138 feet wide and 40 feet high - the 'Morning Star Church' will be one of a kind in that, there will be no intermediate columns. It will have a seating capacity of over 15,000 numbers. Designed with Portuguese artistic nuances and the over all view resembling a shell,this will surely be an architectural wonder. The front elevation will be similar to the main Basilica. Construction works are in the pipeline.,The Feast day
September 8 is commemorated as the feast of Our Lady of Good Health. The celebration starts 29 August and ends on the day of the feast. The feast day prayers are said in TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
, Konkani
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Geography and climate
Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers south of ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and 14 km south of Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
on the Coramandal coast, at 10.40°N 79.49°E in Nagapattinam district of Tamil nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
state.
| Summer | Winter | |
| Max. | 36 °C (96.8 °F) | 29 °C (84.2 °F) |
| Min. | 28 °C (82.4 °F) | 21 °C (69.8 °F) |
When to visit Velankanni?
Taking pilgrimage to Velankanni Church can be done throughout the year. It will be good to plan during the months of October to March as the climate will be mild and cool.Late August to middle of September is the peak season as the festival is conducted. Millions of pilgrims will be attending the car festival held on 8 September every year. Visiting Velankanni during festival time will be a fun than a pilgrimage.
During April, May and June it will be very hot due to summer, as well as crowded due to holiday seasons. More number of tourists visit the church than pilgirms in this season.
November will see the Church almost empty during afternoons as cyclone used to stop the flow of pilgrims. October, November and February,March is the perfect time as the church will be less crowded and the climate will also be good.
How to Reach?
Velankanni is well connected by road, rail and air. Most devotees reach Velankanni by road passing through Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
or Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The highways connecting Cities with Velankanni are reasonably good and well maintained.
By Road
Reaching Velankanni by road is much convenient as 'East Coast RoadEast Coast Road
East Coast Road is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet,...
' pass through this town.
- Reaching Velankanni From Chennai: Take NH45, reach TindivanamTindivanamTindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Important roads from north to south Tamil Nadu pass through Tindivanam and similarly from west to east.-History:Tindivanam is a Selection grade Municipal Town...
(131 km), from there take NH 66 to reach Pondicherry (43 km). From Pondicherry take NH 45A to CuddaloreCuddaloreCuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
(25 km). Up to Cuddalore roads are very fine as its all either 6 lane or 4 lane. From Cuddalore to ChidambaramChidambaramChidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
(44 km) and After Chidambaram, reaching up to KaraikalKaraikalKaraikal is a major port city of east coast of India and a municipality in Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, India. Several explanations are offered for the word 'Karaikal'. The imperial Gazetteer gives it the meaning 'fish pass'. According to Julien vinson the town is said...
(64 km) is time eating (takes at least 2 hrs) even though the distance is just 104 km), road is curvy and care is needed while driving. From Karaikal reach NagapattinamNagapattinamNagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
(10 km). From Nagapattinam take NH 67 and drive towards Tanjore about 5 km, you will reach a village called Puththoor. Take left and drive about 10 km to reach Velankanni Church entrance arch. From the arch, Veilankanni church is just 3 km.
- Reaching Velankanni From Bangalore: Take NH7National Highway 7 (India)National Highway 7, commonly referred to as NH 7, is major North-South National Highway in India that runs through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu....
to reach Namakkal (195 km). From Namakkal take SH25 to reach Trichy (80 km). This road has lots of curves - care is needed while driving. Lots of sand smugglers ply their trucks at very high speed creating traffic jams and accidents. Instead of reaching Trichy via MusuriMusuriMusuri is a Korean term referring to female slaves in charge of odd chores in the court during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Their main tasks were miscellaneous works such as drawing water from a well, making a fire in the fireplace or cleaning....
from Namakkal, go to KarurKarurKarur is a large town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. Karur district was formed on 30 September 1995 by trifurcating Tiruchirappalli district. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District. Karur has a very long...
(46.6 km) and then travel to Trichy (82.4 km) which will add 50 km more in distance . From Trichy take NH 67 to reach NagapattinamNagapattinamNagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
(144 km). Make a note not to go to Nagapattinam. Reach Puththoor (which is located 5 km before Nagapattinam) and take Right and drive about 10 km to reach Veilankanni Church entrance arch. From the arch, Veilankanni church is just 3 km. Total distance is 424 km. Or from Bangalore travel to TiruvannamalaiTiruvannamalaiThiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage Temple city and special grade municipality in Thiruvannamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Thiruvannamalai district. Thiruvannamalai is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of the Annamalai hill and...
(210 km) - Tirukkovilur - PanrutiPanrutiPanruti is a town, municipality and taluk headquarters in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Panruti lies between Cuddalore and Villupuram.-Geography:Panruti is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres...
- CuddaloreCuddaloreCuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
then via ChidambaramChidambaramChidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
(113 km) to Nagapattinam (74 km) and to Velankanni Church (18 km). Total distance using this route is 415 km. Even though you save 9 km, the road is very bad comparing to the previous one.
- All major towns and cities in South India are well-connected to Velankanni by the state-owned, scheduled Road Transport Express buses and the private omnibus services as well as by many tour operators.
Many pilgrims walk from Puththoor to Veilankanni as a thanks giving or to petition to the Mother to fulfil their prayers.
By Train
Railway track work has been completed up to Velankanni which connects Velankanni with Nagapattinam. Passenger services got started on this route with effect from 21 December,2010. There are two local trains running towards NagapattinamNagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
daily in the morning and evening. Now there also exists Velankanni Express Train (No:17315) from Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG) in Goa to Velankanni(VLKN) and Velankanni-VSG Express Train (No:17316) from Velankanni(VLKN) to Vasco-Da-Gama(VSG).
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, which is just 12 km away using seashore road or 18 km using proper road, is well rail-connected to all major cities in India through Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and Trichy. Taxi services can be availed from Nagapattinam to Velankanni for a charge of about 250.
By Air
Nearest Airport to Velankanni is at Tiruchirapalli International Airport at distance of about 165 km. It is an International airport with daily domestic flights to ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Cochin, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
etc., as well as many international flights. Taxi services are available from Tiruchirappalli to Velankanni for a fare of 2000 approx. for an INDICA Cab.
Accommodation
The church management provides lodging facility at a cost of Rs 200 per day, while there are many other private promoters also into hotel business in this town. For availing church lodging facility, one should stand on queue in the counter to book a room and rooms are always provided on first-come first served basis depending on the vacancy. Private hotels provide advance booking. Single rooms to cottage houses are available in plenty. Care should be taken while opting for private economy class lodges as few may run brothel.During the months of January, April, May, June, August, September, December and during every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, getting an accommodation is very tough, as lots of pilgrims pour in there.
List of hotels/lodges in Velankanni:
- Hotel Velanganni (Phone: 04365-263527)
- Hotel Golden Sand – Velankanni (Phone: 04365-263426}
- Hotel Sea Gate (Phone: 04365-263910)
- Hotel Picnic (Phone: 04365-263510)
- Hotel MGM Bethesda Inn (Phone: 04365-263900)
- Clinton Park Inn (Phone: 04365-264990-98) - a star category hotel
There are several other hotels and lodges in different budgets available. Guest houses are also available at very affordable cost. Church-owned rooms will be cheap in terms of price and maintenance. All quality guest houses, avoid giving rooms to singles. Carrying ID cards, return tickets can help to get rooms easily. This is because of increase in number of suicide cases registered in Velankanni and most of the cases relate to people travelled as single.
Church Timings
The Shrine is kept open from 5.00 a.m. morning to 9.00 p.m. evening.Daily Services
Every Morning
- 5:45 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil
- 6:45 a.m. High Mass in Tamil
- 9:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Malayalam
- 10:00 a.m. Holy Mass in English
- 12:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil
Every Evening
- 6:00 p.m. Novena Prayers, Rosary, Evening prayers.
- 6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil
Weekly Services
Thursday Evenings
- 6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil
All Saturdays
- 7:00 a.m. Holy Mass at Our Lady's Tank
- 5:45 p.m. Car Procession around the Shrine Basilica, Rosary, Novena prayers, Blessing with the Statue of Our Lady.
- 6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil
List of parish priests served Velankanni
The basilica first became a parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in 1771. Many of these priests later became Bishop for Diocese of Tanjore
Education
There are five schools situated in Vailankanni town- Our Lady of Health Higher Secondary School
- Our Lady of Health Middle School
- Our Lady of Health Elementary School
- Infant Jesus Primary School (English Medium)
- Christ the King High School special school for handicapped and Deaf & Dumb Children.
Museum
The Museum which is located in Vailankanni stands as a live-witness to Our Lady's blessings upon her devotees and to the gratitude of pilgrims. Offerings of gold, silver other metals and kinds, received from pilgrims, are displayed here. The Museum Open from 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. every day.Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai
Vailankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the TsunamiTsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
- Aazhip Peralai that came on December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
. Worst started happening at around 9.30 am on the evil Sunday. As the 8 am Tamil Mass was over, pilgrims from Kerala were inside the church to attend the Malayalam Mass. Sea water rising up to 5 feet even near Bus Stand area washed almost all who were standing near the beaches. thousands of pilgrims were dead and they were buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church.,
Other Churches representing Velankanni Annai
- Our Lady of Health, South Florida, USA
- Church of Our Lady of Velankanni, Farla, KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Velankanni Church, Besant NagarBesant NagarBesant Nagar is one of Chennai's well known neighbourhoods, named after the famous lady theosophist Annie Besant, and adjoins the Theosophical Society. The Theosophical Society Headquarters is located here. It was founded in 1875, and is a worldwide body whose primary objective is Universal...
, ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Velankanni Church, VadipattiVadipattiVadipatti is a panchayat town in the Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics:As of a 2001 Indian census, Vadipatti had a population of 21,780. Males and females each constitute 50% of the population. Vadipatti has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national...
, Dindugal DistDindigul DistrictDindigul District is an administrative region in the south of Tamil Nadu, India. The district was carved out of Madurai District in the year 1985...
., Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Velankanni Church, Soolagiri, HosurHosurHosur is a town and a municipality in Krishnagiri district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.The name of the town is from Kannada language which means 'New settlement/town' . It is a taluk of Krishnagiri district. It is located about 40 kilometres south-east of Bangalore and 38 kilometres from...
, Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Velankanni Church, IrlaIrlaIrla is a neighbourhood in suburban Mumbai, near Vile Parle. It is located near the upmarket Juhu area.There is one beautiful jain temple of the first Tirthankar of jains, Adinath.It also contains a famous chain of shops called "Alfa"....
, MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Velankanni Church, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
, KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Velankanni Church, ChandigarhChandigarhChandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Health Church, UPUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Good Health Church, PratappuraPratappurPratappur could refer to places in the Indian subcontinent:* Sirjug Pratappur – a village in Bangladesh* A town in Siwan, Bihar, home of notorious criminal-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin* A place in Chatra in the Indian state of Jharkhand...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Health Church, SancoaleSancoaleSancoale is a census town in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa.-Geography:Sancoale is located at . It has an average elevation of 41 metres .-Demographics:...
, GoaGoaGoa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
See also
- Christianity in IndiaChristianity in IndiaChristianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
- Christianity in Tamil NaduChristianity in Tamil NaduChristianity in the state of Tamil Nadu, India is believed to be 2000 years old. It possibly was introduced to Tamil Nadu by St. Thomas Didymus , one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ between 52-72 AD. But the colonial age brought a large number of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Italian Christians...
- Roman Catholic Marian churchesRoman Catholic Marian churchesThroughout history, Roman Catholics have built churches to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today, a large number of Roman Catholic churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin exist on all continents...
- Roman Catholicism in IndiaRoman Catholicism in IndiaThe Catholic Church in India is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome.There are over 17.3 million Catholics in India, which represents less than 2% of the total population and is the largest Christian church within India. There are 157...
- Shrines to the Virgin MaryShrines to the Virgin MaryIn the culture and practice of some Christian Churches - mainly, but not solely, the Roman Catholic Church - a Shrine to the Virgin Mary is a shrine marking an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a site on which is centered a historically strong Marian devotion...
- Our Lady of Good HealthOur Lady of Good HealthOur lady of Good Health, popularly called "Our Lady of Vailankanni" is artributed to Mary, mother of Jesus, in the small town of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. A Basilica artributed to both Portuguese and Indians stands in and around the sites of the...
- Poondi Matha BasilicaPoondi Matha BasilicaOur Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi, is a Catholic pilgrimage centre located in Tamil Nadu, South India. Poondi is a small village located in Thiruvaiyaru Taluk , about 35-km away from Thanjavur...
(Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi), Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Our Lady of Snows BasilicaOur Lady of Snows BasilicaOur Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica is located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Virgin Mary.-History:...
, Tuticorin, Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - KamanayakkanpattiKamanayakkanpattiKamanayakkanpatti is a small village in Kovilpatti Taluk in Thoothukudi District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- Demographics : India census, Kamanayakkanpatti had a population of 2426. Males constitute 50.05% of the population and females 49.05%. Kamanayakkanpatti has an average literacy...
Church of Our Lady of Assumption (பரலோக மாதா திருத்தலம்) - Our Lady of Snow KallikulamOur Lady of Snow KallikulamThe Church of Our Lady of Snow is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Kallikulam, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In recent times it became popular because of vision and apparition of Mother Mary....
(Our Lady of Snow Church, Kallikulam), Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.