The pilgrimage commemorates the protection of the Mother of God in 1971 over the villagers who had taken refuge in the church, when more than 100 Pakistani soldiers withdrew without harming anyone.
Newsroom (01/22/2026 2:07 PM, Gaudium Press) – Thousands of pilgrims gathered on January 16 at the Mary Protectress Shrine, located in northern Bangladesh, to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for having protected the local inhabitants during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The pilgrimage commemorates an event that occurred during Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan, when more than 100 Pakistani soldiers surrounded the village church, where the inhabitants had taken refuge, but withdrew without harming anyone.
The annual pilgrimage in the village of Nabai Battala, in the Diocese of Rajshahi, concluded a novena with a Mass presided over by the Bishop of Diocese of Dinajpur, Bishop Sebastian Tudu.
“It is not true that Mother Mary does not listen to the prayers of the people,” Bishop Tudu said in his homily. “The people of Nabai Battala have already received the grace of Mother Mary. During the 1971 War of Independence they trusted in her to save their lives, and Mother Mary truly protected the devotees in the arms of her love.”
Prayer in the Midst of Danger
During the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, Pakistani troops, supported by local razakars—Bangladeshis opposed to independence—arrived in Nabai Battala to capture independence fighters. The villagers had agreed that if an attack occurred, they would gather in the church at the sound of the bell and pray to Mary.
When more than 100 Pakistani soldiers arrived, the villagers—both Christians and Hindus—took refuge in the church. The troops surrounded them and ordered some to pray, but the Hindus could not comply. The soldiers then aimed their weapons at the villagers.
No one fled. They continued praying, and for unknown reasons the Pakistani troops withdrew without firing a single shot. Since then, the inhabitants have expressed their gratitude to the Virgin Mary through annual prayers at the site.
Many of the Hindu villagers later converted to Christianity.
Official Recognition
On January 16, 2004, the then Bishop of Rajshahi, Bishop Paulinus Costa, declared Nabai Battala—an indigenous-majority area located about 300 kilometers north of Dhaka—a pilgrimage site. Since then, the annual celebration has grown in solemnity.
In 2019, new meditation scenes and statues were installed at the 14 Stations of the Cross and at the grotto of the Virgin Mary, and a new pilgrimage altar was constructed.
In 2023, Bishop Gervas Rozario formally designated Nabai Battala as a pilgrimage center of the Diocese of Rajshahi.
Expression of Living Faith
Costantina Hansda, a community leader and social activist from Nabai Battala, noted that the annual pilgrimage has been celebrated since 1971. “That day all the villagers were saved from the hands of the Pakistani army when we prayed asking for her intercession. That is why we carry out this pilgrimage every year, to give thanks and express our gratitude to the Virgin Mary.”
On the night of January 15, pilgrims from nearby villages held a candlelight procession to the shrine, participated in Eucharistic adoration, and went to confession in preparation for the feast.
On the morning of January 16, the faithful gathered at the Way of the Cross before Mass, which was attended by thousands of Marian devotees, priests, and religious.
With information from ACI Prensa.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
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