Overcoming the past, pilgrims throng Velankanni shrine once again

Velankanni – Barely six months have passed since the dreaded tsunami devastated the neighborhood of the popular Marian shrine ar Velankanni, killing hundreds of innocent pilgrims. However, undaunted, the devotees and pilgrims are beginning to make their way back to the popular Catholic shrine in southern India, Christian Today has confirmed.

"The number of pilgrims visiting the shrine during this summer season has equaled the pre–tsunami figures," said Fr. John Bosco, procurator of the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Velankanni.

After the tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, people stayed away from the shrine. It is situated by the sea in Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district, one of the worst–hit places in the state.

Though the towering 30–meters high waves miraculously did not reach the shrine, yet, the waves killed nearly 2,000 people in Velankanni alone and another 4,000 in other parts of the state. Among the fatalities were pilgrims who had come to the shrine and gone down to the beach after an early morning Mass.

According to Fr. Bosco, all the rooms the shrine maintains in Velankanni reported full occupancy in May and June, the summer months in Tamil Nadu. The amount of money received as offerings and donations also equaled last year's figures, the priest added.

Even traders and vendors around the shrine reported good business. The tsunami had destroyed all shops on the beach road, the commercial hub of Velankanni, but most of them have been rebuilt. The road that runs from the shrine entrance to the seashore still bears the marks of the devastation.

Several traders and fishermen have put up posters around the shrine expressing their gratitude to relief agencies. At a thanksgiving meeting held June 13, district authorities commended the shrine and Catholic agencies for their relief work.

Agencies such as World Vision, and international Christian organization, and Caritas India gave loans to restart businesses.

The shrine, belonging to the Thanjavur diocese, itself spent around Rs. 2 crores on relief and rehabilitation work, said Fr. Sagayaraj Muthusamy, shrine coordinator for relief work.