Roshni at 09:42, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T09:42:08Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Gunadala Matha Shrine
| other name = Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Matha Church
| image = St Mary's Church Gunadala.jpg
| caption = Mary Matha Church at the base of the hill (2013)
| coordinates = {{coord|16.52074|80.65956|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IN-AP|display=inline,title}}
| location = Gunadala, [[Vijayawada]]
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Roman Catholic]]
| website = https://gunadalamathaofficial.com/
| founded date = 1924<ref>{{cite web |last1=Srinivas |first1=Rajulapudi |title=Gunadala Mary Matha Shrine's centenary celebrations to be a six-month long affair |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gunadala-mary-matha-shrines-centenary-celebrations-to-be-a-six-month-long-affair/article67285120.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=8 September 2023}}</ref>
| founder = Rf. Arlati (Rector of St. Joseph's Orphanage, Gunadala)
| consecrated date = 1971
| events = ''Gunadala Matha Festival'', ''Feast for Our Lady of Lourdes''
| status = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| diocese = [[Diocese of Vijayawada]]
| bishop = Thelegathoti Joseph Raja Rao<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunadala Mary Matha fete off on a grand note in Vijayawada |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/030223/devout-throng-first-days-prayers-at-gunadala-church.html}}</ref>
| rector = William Jayaraju
| vicar = Gabriel Mesapam
}}

'''Gunadala Matha Shrine''' (also: ''[[Our Lady of Lourdes]]'' or ''Mary Matha Church''),<ref name=aptdc>{{cite web|title=St. Mary's Church|url=http://www.aptdc.gov.in/vijayawada-2.html|publisher=aptdc.gov.in|accessdate=8 December 2013|archive-date=13 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213070955/http://www.aptdc.gov.in/vijayawada-2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> located in the city of [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]],<ref name="church">{{cite news|title=Gunadala Mary Matha church|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Life-Style/2014-11-02/Gunadala-Mary-Matha-church/114298|accessdate=15 May 2017|work=The Hans India|date=2 November 2014|language=en}}</ref> is a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site<ref name="hindu">{{cite web|title=Thousands have darshan of Gunadala Mary Matha|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/thousands-have-darshan-of-gunadala-mary-matha/article2885650.ece|publisher=thehindu.com|accessdate=8 December 2013}}</ref> attracting approximately 10 lakh devotees during its annual festival. The site features a church, a grotto, and the stations of the Cross along the hill leading to the 18-foot-high holy cross erected at the hill's summit. It is considered the second biggest site dedicated to [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Saint Mary, mother of Jesus]] after the [[Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health]] at [[Velankanni]] in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunadala Mary Matha fete off on a grand note in Vijayawada |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2023/feb/10/gunadala-mary-matha-fete-off-on-a-grand-note-in-vijayawada-2546148.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Situated amidst a cluster of hillocks, Gunadala stands as the tallest hillock in the city, offering a unique topographical feature within the otherwise flat terrain. Roughly one-third of the hill's slopes are occupied by dwellings, distinguishing it from other smaller hills like [[Gandhi Hill, Vijayawada|Gandhi Hill]] and [[Kanaka Durga Temple|Indrakeeladri]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-12-23 |title=Gunadala, a place steeped in history |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/gunadala-a-place-steeped-in-history/article5492347.ece |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Annual festival ==
The Gunadala Mary Matha festival takes place on February 9, 10 and 11 each year, becoming a significant event as devotees come not only from all corners of the state but from the neighboring [[Telangana]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Karnataka]] states during the festival. The festival commences at Padavala Revu, formerly a bustling wharf for boats traveling to [[Machilipatnam]], and stretches along Eluru Road to the [[Ramavarappadu Junction]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boda |first=Tharun |date=2023-02-07 |title=Stage set for three-day Gunadala Mary Matha festival from February 9 in Vijayawada |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/stage-set-for-three-day-gunadala-mary-matha-festival-from-february-9-in-vijayawada/article66482036.ece |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

During the festival, pilgrims visit the Mary Matha Church at the base of the hill and ascend on foot to pay their respects to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes consecrated in 1925 within a grotto midway up the hill. Additionally, devotees offer prayers at the 18-foot-high holy cross erected at the hill's summit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-09 |title=Gunadala Mary Matha festival begins in Vijayawada |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gunadala-mary-matha-festival-begins-in-vijayawada/article66489316.ece |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The festival will also feature prayers and cultural programs at the nearby Bishop Grassi High School ground.

Many people come here to offer their hair as a symbol of their faith. They also break coconuts at the shrine. In addition to Christians, a significant number of individuals from various religious backgrounds also visit this location, believed to possess healing properties. Numerous worshippers attend the festival with their infants, seeking blessings from the Mother.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-09 |title=Grand start to Gunadala Mary Matha fete |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/grand-start-to-gunadala-mary-matha-fete/article6877333.ece |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== History ==
The development of Gunadala, particularly the Mary Matha Shrine, is credited to the efforts of Catholic priest Huges Pezzoni. Starting with the establishment of an orphanage, Fr. Pezzoni laid the foundation for several Catholic institutions in Gunadala. According to the history chronicled by Fr. John Leoncini of the Vijayawada Catholic Diocese, Fr. Pezzoni acquired a 25-acre area through donations and purchases in 1923. The first manager of Gunadala Catholic Institutions, Fr. P Arlati, overcame numerous challenges to clear the land.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivas |first=Rajulapudi |date=2017-02-07 |title=Gunadala shrine to be developed on a par with Velankanni church |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/Gunadala-shrine-to-be-developed-on-a-par-with-Velankanni-church/article17243578.ece |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On June 24, 1924, the St. Joseph's orphanage was officially inaugurated, and Fr. Arlati installed a small statue of Our Lady of Lourdes (Mother Mary) in a natural grotto on the slopes of Gunadala hill the same year. In 1937, the Diocesan festival started. During that year, Fr .Arlati put a new statue in the Grotto, which is in the middle of the hill. This marked the beginning of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was moved to September 8 every year. They also built an altar in front of the niche for [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Masses]] on various occasions.

To improve accessibility, they widened the pathway, deepened the Grotto, and leveled the ground in front of it. Despite the challenges, dedicated individuals like Monsignor A. Bianchi, the Vicar General, Reverend Brother Bertoli, and Reverend Brother Cripp worked tirelessly and patiently to complete these renovations. In 1947, after Monsignor Bianchi returned to Italy, Brother Bertoli continued the work. Due to issues caused by September rains for pilgrims, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was moved to February 11.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunadalamatha Shrine |url=https://vijayawadadiocese.org/gunadalamatha-shrine/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Subsequently, a church was constructed and consecrated in 1971, establishing the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes as an annual event since then.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jangir |first=suresh |date=2014-11-02 |title=Gunadala Mary Matha church |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Travel/2014-11-02/Gunadala-Mary-Matha-church/114298 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Vijayawada topics}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Vijayawada]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Vijayawada]]
[[Category:Churches in Andhra Pradesh]]

Gunadala Matha Shrine - Revision history

Roshni at 09:42, 1 May 2026