Marian anecdotes of India

The Virgin in the heart of the subcontinent

India keeps treasures of Marian devotion in its towns and cities. From the hills of Kerala to the plains of Bengal, the stories of the Virgin Mary are intertwined with the daily life of millions of faithful.

Main data

The Virgin who appeared in the tree of Bandel

It tells the tradition that in the 16th century, Portuguese sailors sailed through the Gulf of Bengal when a terrible storm threatened to sink their ship. The sailors began to pray the Rosary and saw a light shining on the top of a tree on the shore. When they reached the land, they found an image of the Virgin buried among the roots of the tree. Since then, that place is called Bandel (del portugués «bandeira» o «mástil») y allí se levantó la Basílica del Santo Rosario, una de las iglesias más antiguas de la India.

The Virgin of Velankanni and the Pastors

In the village of Velankanni, in Tamil Nadu, tradition tells that more than 400 years ago a blind peasant walked the way asking for alms. One day, a beautiful woman with a child in her arms gave her milk and gave her eyes back. The peasant said what happened to the priest of the people, who did not believe him. But the next day, the priest saw the same woman with the child by a water fountain. Since then, Velankanni has become the most visited Marian sanctuary in India, known as the "Oriental Heavy".

Virgen de la Salud de Thrissur

In Thrissur, Kerala, Catholics veneration Our Lady of Sorrows. The legend tells that a family of priests received an image of the Virgin brought from Portugal. When they tried to move her to another church, the car stopped and could not move forward. They interpreted that the Virgin wanted to stay there, and they built the basilica in that place. Today it is one of the largest churches in Asia.

The Virgin who protects fishermen

On the shores of Goa, Catholic fishermen tell that every time a storm comes out, the Rosary and the Virgin are reminiscent of the waves. They say they have seen a bright light on the sea when the storm is stronger, and that light is the Virgin Mary leading their ships to safe port.

The Virgin of the Mountains

In the hills of Munnar, Kerala, the workers of the tea plantations tell stories of the Virgin that appears among the morning fog. The elders of the village say that Mary walks among the tea fields protecting the little ones. Every year, on the first Sunday of October, go up to the highest chapel to pray together.