Annai Velankanni Feast

Annai Velankanni Feast is an 11-day festival, which is celebrated annually from August 29 to September 8. In addition to the Velankanni church, the Annai Velankanni Shrine in Besant Nagar, Chennai, is also a venue for this festival. The church holds prayers throughout the week. The celebration begins with a flag hoisting ceremony and is followed by a sumptuous feast offered to Mother Mary. Before hoisting, the flag of Ave Maria is taken out in a procession through the various lanes, by lanes, and streets before reaching the shrine. The Bishop of Thanjavur presides over the function. The lowering of the flag marks the end of the celebration. During this festival, Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) arranges more than a hundred AC and non-AC sleeper buses from major cities in the south to facilitate travel. More than a million visitors flock the church to seek blessings.

Convention

In 2002, from Feb 9th to 11th, the Shrine of our Lady hosted the tenth World Day of the Sick. The ... More

Annai Velankanni Feast

Annai Velankanni Feast is an 11-day festival, which is celebrated annually from August 29 to September 8. In addition to the Velankanni church, the Annai Velankanni Shrine in Besant Nagar, Chennai, is also a venue for this festival. The church holds prayers throughout the week. The celebration begins with a flag hoisting ceremony and is followed by a sumptuous feast offered to Mother Mary. Before hoisting, the flag of Ave Maria is taken out in a procession through the various lanes, by lanes, and streets before reaching the shrine. The Bishop of Thanjavur presides over the function. The lowering of the flag marks the end of the celebration. During this festival, Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) arranges more than a hundred AC and non-AC sleeper buses from major cities in the south to facilitate travel. More than a million visitors flock the church to seek blessings.

Convention

In 2002, from Feb 9th to 11th, the Shrine of our Lady hosted the tenth World Day of the Sick. The World Day of the Sick, which is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church, is being annually celebrated from 1993 onwards. It was for the first time an Indian church was selected as a venue for this conference, and it was a proud moment for the Velankanni Church.  The Healthcare of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, and the diocese of Thanjavur collectively organized this event, and more than 1710 delegates from 27 countries attended the International Conference. They shared their experiences in health care and sensitized the people to the need for social service and alleviating the pain of the sufferers.