As the “Lourdes of the East,” the Annai Velankanni Basilica stands as a testament to India’s rich spiritual tapestry, uniting millions in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Newsroom (15/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) From August 29 to September 8, 2025, nearly three million devotees converged on the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Known as the “Lourdes of the East,” the Annai Velankanni Basilica, a revered Catholic pilgrimage site, drew worshippers from across India and beyond for eleven days of prayer, processions, and vibrant celebrations.
The festivities commenced on August 29 with Bishop Sagayaraj Thamburaj of Thanjavur hoisting the “Hail Mary Flag” during an inaugural ceremony, accompanied by fervent prayers from the faithful. Over the next eleven days, the Basilica hosted an intensive program featuring a novena to Our Lady of Good Health, daily recitations of the Holy Rosary, and 14 Holy Masses offered each day in seven languages: Tamil, English, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi.
On September 7, Archbishop Francis Kalist of Pondicherry-Cuddalore led a Solemn Mass, followed by a procession through the Basilica’s gardens with the shrine of Our Lady. The night culminated in a midnight cake-cutting ceremony to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birthday, a joyful highlight for the gathered pilgrims. The following day, September 8, Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore, president of the Tamil Nadu Episcopal Council, presided over a special Mass, with devotees participating in multiple Rosary recitations throughout the day.
The Annai Velankanni Shrine in Chennai’s Besant Nagar also welcomed over one million pilgrims during the festivities. Archbishop Antonysamy officiated the flag-raising ceremony there, marking the start of the eleven-day celebration that unites diverse Indian cities, each showcasing unique traditions and cultural expressions of devotion.
A Basilica Steeped in History and Miracles
Elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII on November 3, 1962, the Annai Velankanni Basilica owes its title to a series of 16th-century apparitions of the Virgin Mary, a miraculous statue, and countless reported healings. The shrine, located on Tamil Nadu’s Coromandel Coast, 300 kilometers south of Chennai, is one of Asia’s largest Catholic churches and a spiritual beacon for Catholics, Hindus, and Muslims alike. The term “Annai Velankanni” translates from Tamil as “Mother of Velankanni,” referencing the coastal village where Mary is believed to have appeared.
The shrine’s origins trace back to three miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary: her apparition with the Infant Jesus to a shepherd boy, the healing of a disabled buttermilk vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a violent sea storm. In gratitude, the sailors constructed a chapel on the seashore, which became a parish in 1771. The Portuguese gifted the church a statue of Mary holding Baby Jesus, cementing its status as a pilgrimage destination. The Basilica’s Gothic architecture and miraculous reputation earned it the moniker “Lourdes of the East.”
A Hub of Faith and Healing
This year, the Basilica welcomed three million worshippers over the eleven-day feast, making it one of India’s most visited religious sites. The nearby Morning Star Church, a 60,000-square-foot edifice built without pillars, accommodates 10,000 worshippers inside and 40,000 outside. Its altar, adorned with intricate carvings of the Last Supper, the Host and Wine, and the Five Breads and Two Fishes miracle, measures 20 feet long and 3.5 feet wide.
The Nativity of Mary, celebrated from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 8, remains the shrine’s central feast. Masses in Tamil, English, Malayalam, and Hindi cater to the diverse linguistic communities of pilgrims. The shrine’s reputation for miraculous healings and answered prayers continues to draw devotees, particularly those unable to visit the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in France.
As the “Lourdes of the East,” the Annai Velankanni Basilica stands as a testament to India’s rich spiritual tapestry, uniting millions in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News and Gaudiumpress.org
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