Goa, Sept. 8 -- The Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni, popularly known as the Lourdes of the East, holds a profound place in the hearts of Goans. Celebrated every year on September 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast draws thousands of devotees not only to the famous Vailankanni Basilica in Tamil Nadu but also to chapels and parishes across Goa, where devotion to Saibinn Vailankanni is deeply rooted.

For generations of Goans, the devotion to Our Lady of Vailankanni has gone far beyond ritual. Families often embark on pilgrimages by train or bus as acts of thanksgiving, penance, or petition. Countless testimonies of miraculous healings, answered prayers, and protection during difficult times have strengthened this spiritu...