This week the Catholics of Tamil Nadu (the state where Chennai is in) are celebrating the Velankanni Festival. On Friday night a statue of Mary and Jesus was paraded around the area of the church in Chennai.
Legend Behind the Festival
According to legend, Mary (the mother of Jesus) rescues a few Portuguese merchant sailors during a violent storm. Upon reaching the shore of Velankanni, local fishermen took the sailors to the thatched chapel. Grateful and eager to pay tribute to Mary, the sailors built a small but
permanent chapel on their return trip. Subsequent returns resulted in improving the chapel and an initiation of the feast.Modern Festival
This annual festival lasts for nine days and draws over 1,500,000 pilgrims – more than any other sacred shrine in India. Both Christians and non-Christians alike visit the church, with some looking forward to miraculous cures. Some fashion candles in the shape of the diseased part of their body in hopes of a cure.
The Valankanni Church in Chennai is smaller and less elaborate, but still draws many visitors, particularly during the festival week. When I was there today, a large Mass was held outdoors, with services alternating between Tamil and English. On the way into church, some lit candles and a couple of women dressed a statue of Mary in a sari. In the room next to the worship area, a young woman laid a garland of flowers normally used in temples onto the tomb of a beloved priest. At the front of the worship area people crossed themselves or kissed the
glass containing a statue of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Strands of jasmine flowers hung down around the Caucasian sculptures.Outside the church a lady stamped the hand of a child using the traditional stamps used to create the vegetable dye prints on cloth. On the road leading up to the church, a young man dew a crucifix in chalk along the parking spot edge of the road, something likely possible due to the marathon which closed down the road to vehicles.
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