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Velankanni, is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine by jackson curry
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Velankanni, is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine |
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Travel & Tourism
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As of 2001 the Indian census indicated Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Citizens there have an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 68%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Velankanni, officially spelled as Vailankanni, also spelled as "Velanganni", is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and a parish under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese. It is a small town located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal 350 km south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu, India. Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger city of Nagapattinam. The canal built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs south of the town and discharges into the sea.The town is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health. The church can be traced to the mid-16th century and its founding is attributed to three miracles: the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm. The Gothic style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture. While the buildings have been painted white, the roof of the church is made of red tiles, providing a striking contrast to the colour of the walls. Every year, 10 days of festivals are celebrated in August and September, attracting about 1.5 million people. Masses are conducted in at least eight languages including Tamil, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi.Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers south of Chennai and 14 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coramandal coast, at 10.40°N 79.49°E in Nagapattinam district of Tamil nadu state. Vailankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the Tsunami - Aazhip Peralai that came on December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Worst started happening at around 9.30 am on that Sunday. As the 8 am Tamil Mass was over, pilgrims from Kerala were inside the church to attend the Malayalam Mass. Sea water rising up to 5 feet even near Bus Stand area washed almost all who were standing near the beaches. Thousands of pilgrims were dead and they were buried en masse in a single grave pit almost 4 km away from the church. For More Info: Velankanni and Velankanni Hotels
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