Location Villianur, Puducherry Denomination Catholic Parish Villianur Groundbreaking 1866 | Country India Dedication Our Lady of Lourdes Architectural type Chapel | |
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Website www.villianurshrine.com Founded 8 April 1877 (1877-04-08) Address Villianur, Puducherry 605110 Architectural style Gothic Revival architecture Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore Similar Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of J, Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, Thirukameshwarar Temple, Villianur railway station | ||
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine is a famous Marian shrine located in Villianur Town, Puducherry. This Roman Catholic shrine is devoted to Our Lady of Lourdes.
Contents
Annual Feast of the Shrine
Annual feast of Our Lady of Lourdes shrine commence with the nine days of Novena and flag hoisting on the 6th day after Easter Sunday. The car procession is done during these days. The feast day is on the 15th day after Easter. This is a Puducherry state Christian festival.
The Holy Water from Lourdes
Every first Saturday in the month of August, The Holy Water from Lourdes Church, France is poured into the 'Sacred Pond' at Villianur Shrine. This event is attended by thousands of devotees every year.
Pilgrimage on foot
As a sign of gratitude to Our Lady, for saving the city from a cyclone, the first pilgrimage on foot took place on 10 October 1977 from Pondicherry and this tradition is still continued on the second Saturday in the month of October. It starts from Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry and ends in the shrine covering approximately 12 km.