Gundala Mata Shrine, Vijayawada (Gunadala Konda)

Gundala Mata Shrine is a popular church and pilgrim in Andhra Pradesh for Christians. This is a beautiful shrine in the Krishna district hilly region, Vijayawada. The Gundala Matha Shrine or Mary Matha Shrine is also popular by its name, St. Mary’s Church.

Gundala Mata Shrine is distinct on its own, as it has an iron cross on the hill top. The shrine has a museum and with good collection of precious gifts given by followers and ancient holy relics. On Sundays, significant occasions and festival days, the shrine is filled with people. Likewise, it is considered to be a famous pilgrimage. Here, Our Lady of Lourdes annual feast is held with gaiety and devotion. This is a well known pilgrimage place visited by people from all corners of the world. Mother Mary prayers help is a strong belief of people. On the hill top is an immense statue of Jesus crucified.

Gundala Mata Shrine celebrates festival every year in the February month for 3 days from 9th to 11th. It is observed that more than 10 lakh devotees come for this festival. However, the festival attendees include Catholics and Christians mostly, but different religions people also do not miss this opportunity of visiting the shrine. In fact, foreigners also visit the church in normal days and at the feast time.

Festival begins on this shrine at 6.30am on 9th Feb and it ends late night on 11th Feb. There is active participation of general devotees from Andhra Pradesh and other parts, convent students, nuns, brothers, priests and deacons.

It is believed that Mother Mary appeared in the year 1858 on 11th Feb on this hill. Later, a statue of Our Lady was installed in 1925 at Gundala by the St. Joseph’s Orphanage. A church was also built and sanctified in 1971, now referred as St. Mary’s Church. The church is on a hillock and since then, the Our Lady of Lourdes Feast became an annual event with hundreds of people attending it. Devotees celebrate this important occasion with devotion and enthusiasm.

During the annual event, Gundala Mata Shrine is thronged by devotees and special prayers are conducted. Pastors from different churches come to participate in prayers and people break coconuts, light candles and also tonsure their heads. Cultural programs are held religion based and healing prayers offer solace to devotees.

The Gundala Mata Shrine works on all days of the week from 10am to 5pm.