Li’l birdie says…

So….. You’re saying I can jump off this window and not die?

I can fly?

No way in hell I am trusting you, man!!!

*Bleddy Human*

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Velankanni Church of Virgin Mary

On a warm summer morning of Tamil Nadu, a group of young girls decided to visit a church nearby.

Map was arranged. Calls were made. Cab was hired.

Since it was only 3 years later I started penning down this trip – blame my poor memory- I used excerpts from Richard Clarke’s Blog to introduce Velankanni Church.

“Our Lady of Velankanni (alternately spelled Vailankanni) Church, called “The Lourdes of the East” and also “Our Lady of Good Health.” It carries these names because of three miracles that happened associated with the Mother Mary. It was built in the late 16th century. Later, modifications were made by the Portuguese.

Velankanni Church is a colossal structure, built in the Gothic style of architecture.

Velankanni receives many visitors. The largest crowd is up to 500,000 on September 8 of each year, for the nativity of the Virgin Mary.

The local tradition talks of the apparitions of Virgin Mary at Velankanni, at least three times. It is seen as a place of healing, and attracts many thousands of visitors, mainly Indians.”

Since our day began early, and hostel mess food was pathetic, we stopped to eat roadside.

Well what we ate wasn’t top class food, but it was better than what we left behind in hostel.

Soon enough we reached the beautiful church.

Parts of it was getting renovated.

We took the entrance from the left…..

If you stand on this church, you see 3 churches – one on your left, one on your right, and one straight ahead.

  

A peaceful place to worship.

  

And a special area designated to sell franchised products of Velankanni Church.

Oh, and one of the 3 churches I mentioned about – the one straight opposite – many people come here and go to that church crawling or barefoot. It is a belief if you pray for something – this is the hardship you need to get through.

We spotted a woman going there- on her knees. There is a tree inside the church; childless women tie a handkerchief in the shape of a pram here. Apparently they get blessed with children after that.

Not sure about the myths and beliefs related with the churches, but it was a beautiful architectural site too.

Some Links :

Velankanni Town – Wikipedia

Velankanni Church Website

I.Love.India Website talks about the church.

time for “New year Resolution”

We all make New Year Resolutions.

And we all have broken one or all our resolutions. C’mon one can’t be so strict also. Loosening one’s self leash is okay 😉

So here is a list of my past year’s new year resolutions – which I successfully implemented and plan to continue doing so. (Three cheers for self) 😀

* no shop-lifting

* no lying on the face

* eat healthy – put on weight

* say NO to aerated drinks

* no begging-borrowing-stealing : maintain accounts

* call relatives at regular intervals

* lesser *lc*h*l 

So now, the turn for this years’ resolutions. Here we go

* implement the vows taken on Bday

* shop lesser

* say less negative things/think positive

* pray more often

* wake up early 

* work out once in a while (enough with putting on weight)

With that – I pray for a peaceful and blissful 2013 which brings harmony, success and wisdom in all our lives.

Have a good day y’all.

*An update from 2015*

• implement the vows taken on Bday I don’t remember what it was i vowed on bday
• shop lesser no woman sane would add that to a resolution. 
• say less negative things/think positive To a certain extent yes! I think more positive. 🙂
• pray more often Have given up on this one I guess.
• wake up early Done 🙂
• work out once in a while There there!

Plus, I am still keeping the resolutions from way back in 2011 and 2012 🙂