10/09/2024
Annual Feast of Harihara Matha, Minor Basilica which is known as "Feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary" celebrated at Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Health, Harihara in a grand manner on September 8. Ocean of people from all corners of Karnataka as well as outside Karnataka witnessed the Annual Jatra Mahotsav of Harihar Matha Basilica. Every street of Harihar Town was filled with people.
History has it from time immemorial that according to the tradition a Non Christian devotee, while taking a bath, accidentally fell into the swelling river Tungabhadra on whose banks Harihar is now situated. Being on the verge of drawing and in great fear of death, he saw the floating statue of Our Lady of Health and caught hold of it, and that eventually saved his life. Thereafter on reaching home, his wife and children, on touching the statue of Our Lady of Health, were miraculously and providentially healed of their diseases – tuberculosis and paralysis respectively.
Then onwards he dedicated himself completely to the service of Our Lady and his house to the glory of the Mother. Soon after his death, he was laid to rest in a place where his house existed. Later on, that same house was converted into a Church, which is situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. This Shrine has been frequented by the people of Karnataka, irrespective of Caste, Language and Religion. No doubt, it can surely be called the “Vailankanni of Karnataka”. Then in 1833, Fr Bigot is reported to have built a prayer hall in Harihar.
During the Annual Feast, the original statue of Mother Mary is installed in a place adjacent to the Church. People form a queue spreading around 2 to 3 kilometers waiting patiently for their turn to have a darshan of the Mother Mary, holding coconut, candles, flowers and offerings with an intention to keep them at the foot of the Mother Mary and receive the blessings.
Harihar is a Town situated in Davangere District of Karnataka. Erstwhile Mysore Kings, followed by the British. Harihar, though belonging to Mysore state, was part of Chitradurga Division. Later on in 1875 AD, the British Government brought together a few adjacent villages under Harihar and formed it a taluk centre with the establishment of a taluk office.
A new Church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was built on 31st August 1992 by Rev. Fr Jesu Rakshaka Nadhan and inaugurated by Most Rev. Dr Ignatius Pinto, then Bishop of Diocese of Shimoga.
On 27th May 2012 during the time of Rev. Fr Stany D'Souza with the efforts of then Bishop Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, (presently Bishop of Udupi) the Shrine was officially declared as a Diocesan Shrine of the Diocese of Shimoga.
During the time of Rev. Fr Anthony Peter and with the efforts of Present Bishop Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, the Vatican has raised the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar to the status of a Minor Basilica on 18th September 2019. .
