Events

The Shrine of Lady Madhu is the Roman Catholic Temple of Marian in the Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With over 400 years of history, this sanctuary is the center of pilgrimage and worship for Catholics in Sri Lanka. The site is considered to be the most sacred Catholic sanctuary on the island and is a famous place for Tamil and Sinhalese Catholics. The church is not only a symbol of solidarity between the Tamils and the Sinhalese but also a person of different religious beliefs, including Buddhists, Hindus, and Protestants.

Christianity in Sri Lanka was not known until the sixteenth century, although some local traditions claim that the apostle St. Thomas is active on the island. It is known that Portuguese missionaries from India, especially under the leadership of St. Francis Xavier, bring Roman Catholicism to the Kingdom of Jaffna, including the northern peninsula of Sri Lanka. Newly transformed Christians were persecuted under the Jaffna government and the Dutch. During this period, Catholics reorganized the church in Manthai and installed a statue of the Virgin Mary in the sanctuary.

Every August, the tranquil village of Madhu has witnessed the arrival of thousands of religious believers from all over the island. During the Great Madhu Festival, a floating joy and spirituality resonate in the sanctuary. When the devotees gather and pray in deep admiration, the sacred earth beats with a warm dedication.