Basilica of Our Lady of Snows - Thoothukudi

Our Lady of Snows Basilica (Panimaya Matha Kovil in Tamil) is one of the most popular places of worship in Thoothukudi. It is a shrine dedicated to St. Mary and is inspired from the ‘Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore’ in Rome. The history of Shrine Basilica is closely connected with the history of the conversion of the Paravar community, the indigenous people of the pearl fishery coast. Once that fishing community had sharp disputes with the Muslims of that area regarding the right of fishing. Unable to fight against their atrocities, they asked the Portugese traders to help them. The Portuguese agreed to help them under one condition that they need to convert into christianity. The deal was signed and all converted to Christians. As a token of gratitude to redeemers, the Paravars from about 22 villages numbering about 30000, embraced Christianity in the year 1535 to 1537. In October 1542, St. Francis Xavier arrived on the shores of the pearl fishery coast to categorize them and strengthen the community. That is how the church came into existence. Soon, there arose a great religious persecution by the Nayak of Madurai who had by this time taken control of the region. They set fire to churches and houses of Catholics. Hence the paravars left Thoothukudi and fled to a nearby island along with the statue. And it was brought back to Thoothukudi in 1699. Made in Portugese style of architecture, it takes influences from Rome and Italian styles.