P.V.Anandpadmanabhan

Vailankanni festival is celebrated every year from August 29 to September 8. Fondly known as the 'Lourdes of the East', the festival witnesses millions of pilgrims visiting the Shrine throughout the year, imploring ‘Our Lady’ for fulfilling their various needs and thanking her for favours received through her intercession. 

On August 29, a huge procession of devotees makes their way to the church. The impressive flag hoisting ceremony marks the beginning of the festival.

It is attended by various dignitaries, VIPs, large number of devotees and followers. At 8 pm, the chariot procession starts with three chariots of ‘The Mother’, ‘St Michael’ and ‘St Joseph’.

The chariot procession takes place  every day of the festival. On the penultimate day six chariots join the procession and on the last day seven. September 8 is considered auspicious because it was the day the Portuguese sailors first landed in these parts and they built the first actual church.

Ordinarily, the Mass service is conducted in English, Tamil and Malayalam from 6 am in the morning till 6.30 pm in the evening (rosary and novena prayers). But during this eleven-day long festival, the Mass service is also conducted in English, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu.

On September 7 and 8, the evening prayers are conducted by the Bishops of Thanjavur. Cultural programmes are also conducted for the pilgrims. The festival ends with the lowering of the flag on the September 8 at 6 pm.