Denomination Roman Catholic Phone 04637 235 252 | Functional status Active Dedication Mary | |
 | ||
Architectural style Ancient Roman architecture Similar Basilica of Our Lady of Snows - T, Basilica of Our Lady of Snows - P, Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Sebastian Church - P, National Shrine of Our Lady | ||
The Church of Our Lady of Snow is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Kallikulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Tamil 'Pani' means 'Snow' and 'Matha' means 'Mother'.
Contents
History
People inhabited Kallikulam as early as 1700 AD. In 1770 AD, a thatched church was built in the name of Holy Mary by village people. In 1884, Kallikulam villagers and Jesuit Missionaries decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Mother Mary. In 1886, a church was constructed in that place and consecrated to Our Lady of Snow.
Annual feast
Every year, the annual feast of Our Lady of Snow is celebrated from 27 July to 5 August.
Apparition
An oral tradition in Tamil Nadu states that on 29 March 1939 around 6.30 pm, six young people claim that they saw the Mother Mary appear on a hill near to the Church.People from different part of India visit Apparition hill on first Saturday of every month.