The Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni, popularly known as the Lourdes of the East, holds a profound place in the hearts of Goans. Celebrated every year on September 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast draws thousands of devotees not only to the famous Vailankanni Basilica in Tamil Nadu but also to chapels and parishes across Goa, where devotion to Saibinn Vailankanni is deeply rooted.
For generations of Goans, the devotion to Our Lady of Vailankanni has gone far beyond ritual. Families often embark on pilgrimages by train or bus as acts of thanksgiving, penance, or petition. Countless testimonies of miraculous healings, answered prayers, and protection during difficult times have strengthened this spiritual bond over decades.
In Goa, the feast is marked with novenas, Masses, and processions in churches and shrines dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Families gather in prayer, offering flowers, candles, and heartfelt intentions, while communities unite in faith to honor the Mother who is believed to intercede powerfully for her children.
The feast is both a religious and cultural celebration, symbolizing Goa’s unique blend of faith, family, and festivity. For Goans, Saibinn Vailankanni is not just a Marian apparition from afar, but a comforting presence, a mother figure closely tied to their daily lives and spiritual journey.
This year, O Heraldo will telecast the solemn feast Mass live from Vailankanni at 11:00 am, bringing the celebration into Goan homes and allowing thousands more to unite in prayer with the faithful gathered at the shrine.