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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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Festival season commences : Valankanni - the Lourdes of the East by Dr. Granville Fernando Once more it's festival time at Valankanni, the famous Marian shrine across the Palk Straits on the scenic eastern coast of India.
Situated a midst scenic and serene surroundings lashed by the blue green waters of the Bay of Bengal, against a beautiful and scintillating backdrop of fishing craft with their immaculate white billowing sails about 350 kilometres south of Madras or Chennai, Valankanni the Eastern Lourdes is a veritable focal point of pilgrimage in South East Asia. In fact when I visited the city I was struck by the cosmopolitan crowd that thronged the streets. They came from all parts of Asia. Some from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and even some from distant China. The crimson glow of the setting sun illuminated the pearl white Basilica that stood so majestically on the sandy landscape. The heart strings of every pilgrim starts warming up as they see the elongated Gothic spires of the Basilica miles away. Today at Valankanni there is a cluster of churches. A beautiful three cone church adorns the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to the poor shepherd boy. A beautiful lady is then supposed to have asked some milk for, her little babe. According to her request the pot had been full and overflowing. This was the first miracle. The second was the instantaneous cure of the lame boy while the third was the safety of a Portuguese vessel off this sea coast. Today Valankanni comes under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Thanjavur. Soon miracle after miracle followed, and the extraordinary power of the shrine spread far and wide. Today Valankanni, once a tiny speck of a fishing village has become a second Lourdes, the Lourdes of the East or Orient a miraculous shrine acknowledged by the whole world. Our Blessed Lady's love for her children knows no bounds. As they keep on drifting from the path of righteousness she appears to them to mend their ways. Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Guadelupe in Mexico and Valankanni in India are a few of them. A beautiful Museum of offerings at Valankanni bears testimony to the multitude of graces favour blessings and miracles that have taken place at this miraculous shrine. A row of discarded crutches still hang in mute testimony to the number who having thrown their walking aids have walked home miraculously. Every year hundreds and thousands who keep on visiting the shrine have kept on increasing. Many people from their home town Chilaw crossed over to keep their annual tryst with their heavenly mother. They know they will never be confounded. The proposed railway that is being envisaged from Nagpur right up to the shrine at Valankanni will certainly be a boon to the thousands that keep flocking to the shrine. Valankanni is an eastern country and certain ancient Hindu customs have also got incorporated into certain Christian practices. I was really struck by the number of coconuts that were dashed before being offered to Our Lady of Valankanni. Perfumed garlands were also gifted. At times I was wondering whether I was somewhere near Kochchikade. |
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