Madhu church
The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics.[1] The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island[2] and is a well known place of devotion for both Tamil and Sinhalese Catholics alike.[3]
The church has been a symbol of unity not just between Tamils and
Sinhalese, but also between people of different religions, including Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants.[4] Attendance for the August festival at times touched close to a million people before the out break of the Sri Lankan conflict.[1]
Situated in the heart of the conflict zone, pilgrimage to this shrine
has been dramatically affected in recent years with the presence of
refugee camps around the shrine complex.[2] As part of the conflict, it has been shelled a number of times.
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