By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
Marian shrine of Bandel near Kolkata has attracted thousands of pilgrims on this Sunday, 12th January 2020. The pilgrims progressed in their ‘march’, reaching the Shrine of the Holy Rosary on foot, in search of grace. Thousands of pilgrims including men women, young people and children started their walk from different starting points in Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, 24 Paraganas, many walking over 40 km distance bare foot as penance, as well as thanksgiving for favours received.
Many leaders including priests and nuns accompanied the pilgrims from respective parishes. The uninterrupted walking pilgrimage of its 66th year, held on second Sunday of January, has been a traditional practice for many people from these neighbouring districts, organized by the Catholic Association of Bengal.
Peoples’ expeditions into devotion, brought together thousands of pilgrims to Our Lady of Happy Voyage walking from diverse directions. Those from South 24 Paraganas, Kolkata and Howrah began their walk after attending the usual early Mass at Happy Voyage Church, Howrah. The pilgrims carrying the cross walked down the Grand Trunk Road towards Bally bridge where they were joined by other pilgrims, walking through old colonial townships of Serampore, Chandernagore, Chinsurah along Hooghly river, before they reached the Basilica by sunset.
The attraction towards Our Lady of Bandel, sends spirit-filled grace to many young and old to take up the ‘radical challenge’ to walk the way exploring individual and group devotions, with prayers and songs carrying with them candles, flowers and incense . With the decline of the elderly joining in the walk, the young generations have taken up the challenging tradition of old. They all come in search of the Mother who awaits eagerly her children. The statue of Our Lady of Happy Voyage eventually ‘lifts’ them up to her (many kneeling their way up the stairs!) for blessings and graces from above. Unlike other pilgrimages this one includes a well dedicated community effort from respective parishes with their banners, to ‘walk the faith’ as a ‘family’ under Mary’s mantle.
It emphasizes each one’s quest to express concretely his/her devotion. While many ‘walks’ to pay homage to Mary, saints and martyrs, are managed by Church authorities, this one is one of the laity. On arrival, the Prior blessed the pilgrims at the Church gate and received the pilgrims’ Cross at the main altar before the Eucharistic celebration for the weary pilgrims.
Often, the ‘adventurous’ open-minded fellow ‘pilgrims’ in their maiden efforts venture into the sacred spheres of their lives either invited or challenged by friends and relatives, or by mere chance. Sitting tired in the Church for the Eucharistic celebration after a long walk, a young girl expressed: “I grew up without struggles in life, but this stomach-blowing walk from Roghunathpur, Kalyani to Bandel, has made me grow-up a bit strong in spirit, body and mind. My ‘hunger’ has been met.”
The Bandel Walk experience is only lasting when the external expression coincides with what is internal. As the regular pilgrims move through the pews of their past annual walk memories, their perseverance has a ‘prize’ to offer – grace from God. As another young pilgrim while limping after a long leg-shivering walk, remarked, “What my heart wanted, it has achieved – Mother Mary has looked upon me.”
Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life for many people. Life itself is a journey, coming from God and returning to God. These pilgrims seek to separate themselves from the everyday concerns of the world, and spend time in the presence of God as they walk all the way to the Church of Bandel. On their return home, nourished by grace, they live their faith better. The over 400 years old Bandel Shrine distinctively contributes to the spiritual growth of the ‘pilgrims’, whose ruminations will certainly sanctity their deep desire for that which is mysteriously Supreme.
Some 10,000 people including followers of other faiths attended the annual Walk Pilgrimage to Bandel Basilica this year. Number of priests concelebrated Mass and heard confessions. Built in 1599 by the Portuguese who set up their colony in Hooghly in the 16th century, the Bandel Church holds the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Happy Voyage, which has become the ‘faith-focus’ for these pilgrims of Bengal and beyond.