The long awaited Chief Minister’s Scheme for Pilgrimage to Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, began on Saturday at 11 am from Habibganj Railway Station. Fr Maria Stephen, the PRO of Archdiocese of Bhopal and his team together with Mary PP the official from the Government to accompany the pilgrims and Vishwarkarma, Fr Arul Samy, Fr Shaji, and Coordinator Sudhir Sharma reached Railway Station to see off the pilgrims to Vellankanni.

Vellankanni is a world recognised pilgrimage centre for the devotees of all religions. The story goes back saying the sailors were saved from the storm and cyclone in sea through the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary. Later the sailors built a small Church at Vellankanni village in honour of Mother Mary. So many miracles including healing the sick have been witnessed by a number of people.

Fr Maria Stephen on behalf of entire pilgrims thanked Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the CM of MP and Archbishop Leo Cornelio for their generosity and kindness to arrange this wonderful pilgrimage to quench the thirst for God and said, “The Happiness of human beings from external things remains temporary while the joy comes from inner being, related to God remains permanent.” This is the secret of spiritual happiness. He also thanked the entire team of Railways for arranging a comfortable journey to Velankanni.

 Most Rev. Leo Cornelio, the Archbishop of Bhopal in his message also congratulated the pilgrims and blessed them to have a satisfied pilgrimage.

Total 700 pilgrims from Bhopal, Indore, Sagar, Jabalpur and Betul districts have undertaken pilgrimage to Vellankanni. As per the scheduled the pilgrims will reach Vellankanni on October 1 at 4.30 pm and will start the journey to Bhopal the next day at 8.30 pm.