Spiritual awakening at the coastal district of Tamil Nadu.

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Vailankanni Old Church
What draws all men and women to historic religious places? What is the purpose of converging in a particular location to experience spirituality? I was on a trip to witness it. My first visit was to Vailankanni Basilica located on the seashore of Nagapattinam district. Being an iconic landmark for Christianity, this holy place attracts people of all religions. Ardent devotion to Mother Mary is evident in the vicinity.
Multiple churches have been erupted and the imposing architect is a resemblance of British art forms. Large amount of hotels and lodges have sprung up to accommodate the ever-flowing devotees. And never to forget that Tsunami took its toll on December 26, 2004, leaving an air of melancholy around the region.
Water Tank at Nagore Dargah
My next step was to Nagore Dargah, an Islamic holy place that too attracts devotees from other religions. The mosque has multiple entries that one might get lost inside the building. At centre placed the tomb of the Saint Shahul Hamid, who helped people gain good health during 16th century. Just behind the mosque is the huge water tank where the devotees take bath. As the day was sultry, I soaked myself into the water for an hour. The exciting part of travelling is meeting anonymous people and interacting with them. I made an acquaintance with a schoolboy from Dindigul, who visited the place with his family.
Several questions conceptualize in my mind from the visit to these two holy places; why do people throng such landmarks? Is it out of unfettered devotion or driven by desperation, to gain spiritual experience or prosperous life for oneself and the family, to wash off their sins or to make room for committing more? Be it anyway, the behavior of the devotees at these surroundings are remarkable, they are kind, loving and warm-hearted. They are in a trance surrendering them totally to a supreme power.
After a refreshing dip at the pool, I set off to leave the shrine. As I exit the mosque, I noticed a signboard displaying ‘Tharangambadi’ at the distance of 27Km. What more to say, the journey continues….

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