In Vailankanni, on the Bay of Bengal, in India, more than 5 million pilgrims visit the sancturay of Our Lady of Vailankanni. The Holy place is called the “Lourdes of the East”, resonating one of the West’s most famous marian pilgrimages. Every year, between August 29th and September 8th, more than 3 million people travel from afar to celebrate Mary. ©Melissa Pignatelli 2012