A shrine becomes something else when a woman has power over it
A 16th-century Catholic shrine on the Hooghly River in eastern India draws thousands of pilgrims annually, the majority of them Hindus and Muslims who say they are drawn by the power of the Virgin Mary. The Basilica of the Holy Rosary, known locally as Bandel Church, sits near Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, where pilgrims from Hindu and Muslim faiths visit the Catholic shrine.
The shrine features a grand facade with soaring arches and a vaulted-ceiling nave decorated with ancient murals. At its center stands a statue of Mary, “Our Lady of Happy Voyage,” a focal point for sailors and travelers who regularly visit to pray for protection from danger at sea.
For 28-year-old Rimpa Chowdhury, a devout Hindu, the church is a place of answered prayers and deep community ties. She has visited the basilica weekly for the past 13 years.
“There’s something about this place,” Chowdhury said, wearing a loose green tunic. “A shrine becomes something else when a woman has power over it.”
Over decades, thousands of pilgrims have come to the basilica for feast days every year. Many attribute their devotion to what they describe as the power of the divine feminine — their belief in the intercessory power of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Pope John Paul II declared the historic sanctuary a minor basilica in 1988, formally recognizing the church’s spiritual and cultural significance.
Chowdhury is among the many non-Christian pilgrims who visit the site for prayer and community.