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Madhu Pilgrims from Chilaw

by Chilaw special correspondent

Over twenty buses full of pilgrims from Chilaw left for Madhu last Saturday. More are expected to join them in the next days as hundreds of pilgrims are expected to travel on pilgrimage to the sylvan Madhu Shrine in the north, for the July festival.

The sea beach fishermen of Chilaw, who speak both Tamil and Sinhala said they have already obtained permission from the authorities concerned to attend the annual feast of Our Lady of Madhu. They will be camping out in the open in he precincts of the Madhu Church as in the distant past. And they said they planned to stay a longer period of about ten days or more. In the past, they were accustomed to go on pilgrimage every year without fail, when there was no war when they had camped out for over a month, praying, making novenas and supplications to Our Lady and attending daily Holy Mass.

A fisherman said the trip by bus from Chilaw to the Madhu Shrine will cost Rs. 550 each. Many buses will ply from Chilaw and other villages and towns on pilgrimage to Madhu this year. Some said they are not sure of going on pilgrimage next year, but due to the peaceful atmosphere prevailing now, their journey to Madhu will be safe without any hassle this year. They will pray for peace and stability in the country to be able to make their Madhu expedition in the following year too, they said. 

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