Archbishop cancels largest Marian pilgrimage in North India

Metropolitan Archbishop of Patna, Sebastian Kallupura, in a letter to all Church dignitaries in Bihar and neighbouring states,  has officially cancelled the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace, Mokama, citing the covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Bihar government. The event was  slated for February 6.

On the first Sunday of February, for thousands of Catholics in and around Bihar, and for some who journey from other places, all roads lead to the Mother of Divine Grace. This shrine dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, is in the town of Mokama, 90 km east of Patna, the state capital, on the southern banks of the great river Ganges, the lifeline of Bihar. It attracts large numbers of people on the occasion of the feast day.

‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death!’ is the prayer recited 53 times, the supplicants clicking through their rosary beads as they walk in procession around the shrine. The prayers are led in Hindi, but the responses come in several languages, as each individual intercedes.

The ways in which the faithful coming to the shrine express their thanks, in tune with their local cultural expressions, are many and varied. Some light candles, others offer scarves and shawls, some may seek to shave off their hair, and so on.

"Built in 1947, this beautiful house of the Mother of Nazareth had been inviting her children to her in thousands from all over the Hindi-belt – Allahabad, Benares, Calcutta, Ranchi, Delhi and other far-flung regions of northern India. Now it has become the most visited Marian pilgrim centre of the north, perceptibly emerging as the Velankanni of northern India," says priest blogger Joe Palathunkal.

The pre-pilgrimage Novena, slated to commence from January 28, has also been cancelled.

"For the last couple of months, we have been preparing for the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace, Mokama," said  Archbishop Sebastian. "Notices were printed and all the detailed information regarding pilgrimage was already dispatched.

" But now I am sad to inform  you that due to the particular pandemic situation prevailing in our state and the restrictions imposed by the state government, we are not in a position to hold the annual pilgrimage as planned early."

The Archbishop requested parish priests to encourage the faithful to conduct the Novena in their own homes and spiritually participate in the online Holy Mass that will be offered that day at 10.30 am.

He further requested them to encourage laypeople to make pilgrimages to Mokama Shrine in smaller groups after the lockdown is lifted.