Sunil D'Cruz

Vailankanni, Sep 13: A sea of pilgrims attended the multilingual Feast Mass to celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary on September 7 evening and 8, at the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu. His excellency Dr T Sagayaraj, the bishop of Thanjavur, celebrated both the Concelebrated Feast Masses at the open-air auditorium.

As Mother Mary's birthday gift to pilgrims, Dr T Sagayaraj, bishop of Thanjavur said that the main shrine will remain open round the clock from October 3.

The initiative is expected to provide greater convenience to thousands of pilgrims who travel to Vailankanni from various parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and across the country. Many devotees who arrive at the shrine at odd hours have to offer their prayers from outside the Basilica premises. With the new arrangement, devotees will have the opportunity to enter the main shrine and pray before the altar at any time.

In the 16th century, Mother Mary with Infant Jesus appeared to a milk boy and later to a lame buttermilk child vendor at Vailankanni. She also helped save Portuguese sailors caught in a storm and ensured that they landed safely on the shores of Velankani.