THE SHRINE:
The Shrine of Our Lady in Gunadala, Vijayawada popularly known as the “SHRINE OF GUNADALA LOURDHUMATHA”, is a pilgrim centre is one of the major landmarks of the city of Vijayawada with more than one million devotees annually visiting the Shrine. The Shrine belonging to the Diocese of Vijayawada has a history of nearly a hundred years (1924), and is one of the most visited spiritual centers in South India after the major pilgrim centres of Veilankanni, St.Thomas Mount and Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Shrine is popularly known for the annual feast celebrated in the month of February on the 9 th , 10th and 11 th -after the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to whom the Shrine is dedicated to when million throng to the Shrine from all Southern States.
Popular Rituals performed by the Devotees
- The festival has also acquired certain native ritual practices adapting from the local traditions of the land. Most notable among them is “The offering of hair by pilgrims, a preponderant practice in the temples of Andhra Pradesh. Theologians see the offering of hair as the sacrifice of beauty and as a thanksgiving offering after the wishes of the devotees are granted. Over 50,000 pilgrims of all religions offer hair during the three-day festival. Offering the images of the afflicted organs made in silver, a native practice, is also followed in the Shrine. Coconuts and flowers are offered to the Holy Mother as a token of reverence and veneration as the mother of Lord Jesus.
- The Shrine is also dearly known for many childless couples blessed with children. Devotees affectionately adorn the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni which stands before the Main Church with sarees and later wear them with the faith of conceiving. There are numerous testimonies given by couples who are married for many years that they received children after praying at the Shrine.
- The cement road leading from the main road to the Shrine consists of the Four Mysteries of the Holy Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous and Glorious) on either side depicted with life size statues. In the middle of the Mysteries Approach Road, there is a path of sand on which the devotees go on knees and pray for a wish to come true, or as an act of thanksgiving. Some devotees climb the entire hill on their knees.
- The Shrine is also known for its devotion to the Blessed Mother as Our Lady of Good Health true to name of Our Lady of Lourdes in France where numerous miracles and healings take place. Thousands of people visit Gunadala Matha Shrine throughout the year as they firmly believe in her merciful heart and are convinced of her blessings. Devotees, not only from all corners of Andhra Pradesh, but from the neighboring Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka visit the shrine during the festival in February, every year.