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Often described as the “Lourdes of the East”, the Marian shrine of Vailankanni, in Tamil Nadu (south-east India) dwarfs the number of visitors to its French cousin. From August 29 to September 8, 2024, three million faithful took part in the annual pilgrimage marking the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary... considerably more than the 17,300 people present at Lourdes during the national pilgrimage in 2024.
The history of this sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health dates back to the 16th century. Here, the Virgin Mary appeared to two Hindu boys, one of whom, a lame orphan, was cured. Portuguese sailors later built a church on the shore of Vailankanni to thank the Virgin for saving them from a storm through her intercession.
Since then, the number of healings at Vailankanni has increased for believers of different religions.
The 20 million Christian, Hindu and Muslim pilgrims who come each year to see the “Mother of Healing”, influence local practices: during processions and festivals, prayers are recited in more than seven languages; many go to the shrine on their knees; the procession passes through the town with floats on which are placed small Marian chapels from which men throw necklaces of flowers to the crowd.
“This should not be seen as a form of syncretism or mixing of religions. The shrine is a place where the closeness of Mary, who welcomes everyone, is made manifest”, stressed the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, in a letter sent on August 1 to the local bishop, Bishop Sagayaraj Thamburaj.
In a missive approved by the Pope, who sent his “fatherly blessing to all pilgrims”, the prelate praised the many “spiritual fruits that are produced in this shrine (and) allow us to recognize the constant action of the Holy Spirit in this place”. Even among “the many non-Christian pilgrims who come to seek consolation”.