Vailankanni Tourism, Tamil Nadu
(Vailankanni is also known as Velanganni)
Vailankanni Tourism, Tourist places in Vailankanni, Sightseeing, Vailankanni Travel Guide, Holiday Packages, weekend getaways, places near Vailankanni, reviews, map and trips
( Rating; 0 Reviews)
Rollover & click to Rate
Fast Facts
- State: Tamil Nadu
- District: Nagapattinam
- Famous for/as: Pilgrim
- Altitude: 87 m
- Language: Tamil
- Best Season: Throughout the year
- Weather: Summer 22-37°C, Winter 19-32°C
- Clothing:
- Local Transport:
- Pincode: 611111
- STDCode: 04365
Vailankanni, Overview
Velankanni is well-known as a tourist destination and is given the nickname of 'Lourdes of the East' because like Lourdes in France, there is also a great arrival of pilgrims in to the place. Velankanni is also termed as the "Mecca of South Asian Christianity". Velankanni is situated at a distance of 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu. This shrine Basilica is dedicated to 'Lady of health' and is popularly known as 'Sacred Arogya Matha Church'. The Shrine Basilica comprises three Churches, 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 unique characteristic of the church is its Gothic architecture. Mother Mary is believed to have miraculous healing powers. The shrine draws pilgrims from all faiths and from across the world. The atmosphere around the shrine is spick and span, radiating rays of hope and holiness. There is also a shrine of 'lady of sorrow' where in the sorrowing Mother is portrayed carrying infant Jesus in her hand.
The high altar was decorated with rare porcelain plates that showed scenes from the Bible brought by the Portuguese from China. A path strewn with sand, lead the pilgrims from the main shrine to the place where the Mother first appeared before a shepherd boy, called the "Holy Path". The devotees of all ages and ailments walk on their knees on this path from the church to the chapel. The place where the Mother appeared is symbolized with a lotus shaped tank known as the "Ladies Tank". A home for the Aged, an orphanage, the Mercy Home for the Handicapped and a hospital are all situated in that compound.
The devotees in Velankanni offer candles in various forms in days of ailments. The tradition is that a heart size candle is offered in case of cardiac complications, liver shaped candles for in case of jaundice and many others. After being cured of the disease devotees bring as offering small golden or silver replica of the organ that has been cured. The annual festival is celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety every year from August 29th to September 10 and draws more than a million and a half pilgrims.
Business
Romantic
0
Family
0
Friends
0
Solo
Must See Places in Vailankanni,
Vailankanni, History
According to popular legend, Mother Mary appeared with Infant Jesus in Velankanni at the end of the 16th or early 17th century. Since then, for all pilgrims of the world, Velankanni has been the most important destination and almost the synthesis of all Marian Sanctuaries. Thus, the Pope in the Vatican City has declared Velankanni as a Holy City.
Vailankanni was a part of the parish of Nagapattinam, but as pilgrims began to pour into Vailankanni, it was raised to the status of an independent parish in 1771, and Fr. Antonio de Rozario the last parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Nagapattinam, was appointed the first Parish priest of Vailankanni. Nagapattinam had always been under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Mylapore. During that period the Diocese of Mylapore was administered under the Portuguese 'Padroado' (patronage). Under the Padroado system, the king of Portugal in Europe met all the expenses incurred by the Diocese of Mylapore, which remained under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiffs.
Until 1847 the priests of St. Franciscan Missionaries who had looked after the province of Goa and Mylapore also looked after Nagapattinam and Vailankanni. The Franciscan origin and ownership of the Shrine was also perpetuated, by giving the place of honor to two Franciscan saints, St. Anthony of Lisbon and St. Francis of Assisi, on either side of the miraculous image of 'Our Lady', on the High Altar until 1961. Besides the last parish priest, Miguel Francisco Fernandez, who was of the Franciscan order, controlled the parish of Vailankanni till 1889. In 1890 the parish was handed over to diocesan priests.
Thereafter, the diocesan priests of the Diocese of Mylapore were in charge of Vailankanni. In 1952, when the new Diocese of Thanjavur came into being, and Vailankanni became a part of the new diocese, the priests of Thanjavur Diocese became the custodians of the Shrine. The administration of the new Diocese was imagesorarily placed under the apostolic administration of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Louis Mathias, S.D.B., who was then the Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore.
On March 19, 1953, His Excellency the Rev. Dr. R. Arokiasamy Sundaram, DD., L. C. L., M. A., a priest of Mylapore Archdiocese was appointed as the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Thanjavur. He assumed charge of his Diocese on March 24, 1953.
Vailankanni being situated in the Thanjavur District came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Thanjavur. The Rev. Dr. R. Arokiasamy Sundaram showed keen interest in the development of Vailankanni Shrine and granted special spiritual privileges. 'Our Lady of Health Vailankanni' became the second patroness of our newly erected Diocese.