Catholic World News News Feature

Hindus join in India's Marian pilgrimage September 03, 2007

An estimated 3 million people are visiting the Marian shrine of Vailankanni, in eastern India, during a pilgrimage extending from August 29 to September 8, Vatican Radio reports.

The Vailankanni shrine, popularly known as the "Lourdes of the East," is located at the site where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to a local Hindu boy in the 16th century.

Of the people taking part in the pilgrimage, only about half are Catholics.