Our Lady of Good Health — Velankani
Vailankanni Basilica, Nagapatnam, Tamil Nadu
About This Shrine
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankani (also spelled Vailankanni) in the Nagapatnam district of Tamil Nadu is one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world, earning the title "Lourdes of the East." The shrine stands at the shores of the Bay of Bengal and draws millions of pilgrims annually — of all faiths and backgrounds — making it one of the most ecumenically visited pilgrimage sites in India.
History
The history of the shrine dates to the 16th century, beginning with three miraculous apparitions of Our Lady. In the first apparition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a young shepherd boy selling buttermilk and asked for milk for the infant Jesus. In the second, a lame boy selling buttermilk was cured miraculously. The third apparition involved Portuguese sailors who survived a storm at sea and landed at Velankani, attributing their survival to Our Lady. They built a thatched chapel at the site in gratitude. Over the centuries, the chapel was expanded; Pope John Paul II elevated it to the status of a Minor Basilica in 1962.
Miracles & Significance
The shrine is renowned for miraculous healings — particularly of the sick and disabled — drawing pilgrims who seek cures for ailments of body and mind. The feast of Our Lady of Good Health (August 29 – September 8) is one of the largest religious gatherings in India.
Pilgrimage Guide
The annual ten-day feast from August 29 to September 8 draws an estimated three million pilgrims. Special trains and buses run from across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and other states. Accommodation is available in the form of dharamsalas run by the diocese, lodges, and home-stays in the town. The shrine is accessible by road (Nagapatnam is the nearest town, 12 km) and by the Nagapatnam–Chennai rail line.