Velankanni Town

Vailankanni
	Vailankanni
	— town —
	Vailankanni Location of Vailankanni; in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	10°42′N 79°48′E / 10.70°N 79.80°ECoordinates: 10°42′N 79°48′E / 10.70°N 79.80°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Nagapattinam
Population; • Density	10,144 (2001); • 1,844 /km2 (4,776 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area; • Elevation	5.5 square kilometres (2.1 sq mi); • 87.78 metres (288.0 ft)
• Pincode	• 611111
• Telephone	• +914365
• Vehicle	• TN 51
Website	www.nagapattinam.tn.nic.in/church.html

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Velankanni, officially spelled as Vailankanni (Virgin of Velai, the town), also spelled as "Velanganni" (due to Tamil to English Transliteration), is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and a parish under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese. It is a small town located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal 350 km south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu, India.

Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger city of Nagapattinam. The canal built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs south of the town and discharges into the sea.

The town is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to Our lady of Good Health.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001^[update] the Indian census indicated Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Citizens there have an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.^[1]

[edit] Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health

Main article: Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health

The church can be traced to the mid-16th century and its founding is attributed to three miracles: the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm.

Although all three events resulted in the erection of a shrine, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that caused a permanent edifice to be built at Velankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "Lourdes of the East",^[2] is one of the most frequented religious sites in India. The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health was built in the late 16th century with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of pilgrimages.

The Gothic style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture. While the buildings have been painted white, the roof of the church is made of red tiles, providing a striking contrast to the colour of the walls.

As a token of gratitude to Mary, Portuguese sailors who escaped from a severe cyclone, built a 24 foot by 12 foot shrine with a dome overhead. In their subsequent visits, they brought porcelain plates and other artistic offerings to beautify it. The main ornamentation was a statue of Mary holding her infant son, standing on a globe. The keepers of the shrine eventually built a museum to display the offerings. Periodically this is changed and the new items are added to the showcases.

Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni

In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a parish with Antonio de Rozario as the first parish priest. The church building was raised to the status of basilica in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

Every year, 10 days of festivals are celebrated in August and September, attracting about 1.5 million people.^[3] Masses are conducted in at least eight languages including Tamil, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi.^[4]

[edit] Geography and climate

Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers south of Chennai and 14 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coramandal coast, at 10°24′N 79°29′E / 10.40°N 79.49°E / 10.40; 79.49 in Nagapattinam district of Tamil nadu state.

	Summer	Winter
Max.	36 °C (97 °F)	29 °C (84 °F)
Min.	28 °C (82 °F)	21 °C (70 °F)

[edit] Education

There are five schools situated in Vailankanni town^[5]

Our Lady of Health Higher Secondary School
Our Lady of Health Middle School
Our Lady of Health Elementary School
Infant Jesus Primary School (English Medium)
Christ the King High School special school for handicapped and Deaf & Dumb Children.

[edit] Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai

Vailankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai that came on December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Worst started happening at around 9.30 am on that Sunday. As the 8 am Tamil Mass was over, pilgrims from Kerala were inside the church to attend the Malayalam Mass. Sea water rising up to 5 feet even near Bus Stand area washed almost all who were standing near the beaches. Thousands of pilgrims were dead and they were buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church.,^[6]^[7]

[edit] Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vailankanni

Velankanni Church - Front View
Velankanni Basilica - Extension - Fron View
Veilankanni Basilica - A Panoramic Side View - Church and Church Extension seen at a stretch
Veilankanni Basilica - Left side view
Veilankanni Basilica - Right side view
Veilankanni Basilica at Dusk
Veilankanni Church Pond
Pilgrims walking on their knees towards the Pond
Veilankanni - Adoration Center
Velankanni Basilica
Chappel in Nadu Thittu where Mother Mary appeared for the first time
A Chappel for St Sebastin at Velankanni
Velankanni Church Office housing office, priest residence and a shop
Veilankanni Basilica evening view
Velankanni Main Basilica and Flag during Feast
Flag Pole at the Church
Hindu custom and faith are followed in Velankanni to certain extent
Morning Star church under construction