Nagpur Today:
The Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes at Seminary Hills Nagpur; which is popularly known in our city as the Lourd Mata Mandir, is a place of pilgrimage and prayer, visited by lots of people every day. The Grotto on the Seminary Hills dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes gets maximum number of pilgrims during the days of novena and the feast. The meeting point of all the faithful and the pilgrims of Central India on February 11th and 12th, of 2014 was the Grotto.
Mother Mary in all her glory
Historically, about 120 years ago, the ‘Statue’ of Our Lady of Lourdes was brought from France. A small grotto was built in the tiger infested area of Nagpur, where that statue was kept. Within days Our Lady of Lourdes and the grotto began to attract people of all faith because of the powerful divine presence, because of the innumerable blessings, because many petitions were answered and also because of the scenic surrounding. Then the major decision was to have the Seminary built near the grotto. What has been happening at Lourdes inFrance also happens here at the Grotto at the Seminary Hills. The experiences of the people could be summed up as follows.
The dedicated service to make the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes a prayerful, meaningful, participative and peaceful celebration by all the devotees of Mary was seen on February 9, 2014.
Holy Masses were on from 6:30 am early in the morning. Masses were delivered in all the vernacular languages. Every hour a mass was held.
Our Lady of Lourdes
At 4 pm the Solemn Mass has held led by Arch Bishop Abraham Virukulangara. He was assisted by the
Vicar General of Arch Diocese of Nagpur & Parish Priest of SFS Cathedral Jerome Pinto and other fathers.
At 6:30 pm A grand procession of Mother Mary was taken out by the devotees. The Chariot which was specially decorated for the occasion was a sight to look at. The statue of Mother Mary which was placed on the chariot looked spectacular and had the devotees thronging towards it.
A large number of devotees accompanied the chariot.
At 8 pm, the Bhajan Mandali rendered gospel songs to the audience. While in some songs the audience joined the singers, in others they listened with rapt attention.
Nuns offering their prayers during the Holy Mass
The Preeti Bhoj (Food) was served to the devotees from 10 in the morning to 3:30 pm in the noon. About 50,000 devotees and visitors were fed at the venue. The food cooked included Halwa -800 kilos, Jeera Rice 25 quintals, two side dishes (Sabjees) Potatoes and Brinjal (Aloo Baigan Bajee) and a side dish of Pulses (Dal Bhajee), Pickles. What was inspiring was 95 per cent of the entire food expenses were raised by donations. From the time the Novena started in December 15, 2013, everybody donated according to his or her capacity. The poorest of the poor too donated 250 grams of Rawa or Sugar or 1 kg of Onions, 1 kgs of Potatoes. The Rice was from the donations from Bhandara. Vincent Palotti Group of Educational Institutions donated the Dalda for the food.
Apart from the youth volunteers of SFS Cathedral, 300 Brothers of Dominican and St Charles’ Seminary took active part in various physical arrangements and in other allied work.
Nuns and Sisters offering prayers
The gracefully decorated Chariot with Mother marry taken out in a procession
Volunteers serving food to the devotees
The Vicar General of Arch Diocese of Nagpur and the Parish Priest of SFS Cathedral Jerome Pinto.
The Huge crowd that had accompanied the Chariot of Mother Mary after reaching the Grotto
The hoisted flag of Our Lady of Lourdes
A young girl offers floral offerings and seeks blessings at the feet of Our Lady of Lourdes
Devotees and the Congreagation attending the Mass
Devotees lighting the candle
Devotees offering floral offerings
Mother Mary
Naresh Morris and his wife along with their friend from other faith Chawla and his family who had come to offer prayers
