Our Lady of Vailankanni Shrine, New Delhi, India

Address: Prithviraj Ln, Sujan Sing Park North, Sujan Singh Park, New Delhi, Delhi 110003, India

Overview
Along a quiet cross-street near Khan Market sits one of the most serene and beautiful shrines to Our Lady of Vailankanni (Our Lady of Good Health) in all of India. The shrine was established by a devoted couple in 1959 and includes a chapel full of smaller shrines to many saints, as well as many images of Our Lady of Vailankanni, including a beautiful altar focused on Our Lady. The exterior is marked by a cross-topped traditional steeple, as well as an awning over the entrance to the compound with “Shrine of Vailankanni” painted on it. The compound also includes a grotto to Our Lady of the Rosary and alongside are plaques commemorating the founding of the shrine. Mass is held in the chapel from time-to-time, but it’s very serene to visit its cool interior when it is uncrowded on a weekday or early Sunday morning.

Special things to see in the Shrine
> The main altar with a statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni and Baby Jesus – the vestments on the statues change from time to time.
> Hand-painted images of the apparitions that occurred at Vailankanni in the 16th century adorn the wall of the chapel behind the altar.
> The three-Marian-image shrine on the right-side wall is very beautiful.
> There are many statues of Saints and Jesus that line the walls of the chapel. Each has its own unique feature(s), including the statue of St. Anthony of Padua which has a stole made of Indian Rupee notes.
> In the compound of the shrine premises, is a Grotto of Our Lady of the Rosary and plaques about the founders of the shrine.

Interesting Fact(s) About the Shrine
> The Shrine was established in 1959 by Michael Anthony and Elizabeth Anthony who died in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
> A plaque outside the Chapel reads, “This shrine was established in 1959 by their hard work and dedication. They lived their life for the shrine and died for the service of ‘Mother Mary’ devotees. They have made their wonderful works to be remembered and we their descendants will be mighty on earth and will be blessed.”