Rimpa Chowdhury, a 28-year-old Hindu, visits the Basilica of the Holy Rosary in Bandel, India every week. The 16th-century Catholic church on the banks of the Hooghly River offers her not only answered prayers but a sense of community and peace. The expansive grounds, 50 miles north of Kolkata, are recognized locally as a place of divine feminine power due to a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Thousands of pilgrims, predominantly Muslims and Hindus, flock to the basilica each year for feast days. They believe in the protective power of Mary, represented by the statue of ‘Our Lady of Happy Voyage.’ Pope John Paul II acknowledged the spiritual significance of this sanctuary, declaring it a minor basilica in 1988.

Historical records indicate that Catholic Augustinian friars and Portuguese traders settled in Bengal in the late 16th century. Devotion to Mary was intertwined with Portugal’s colonial ambitions, leading to her protection over their outposts. Despite the destruction of the original church in 1632 and subsequent events like an earthquake, the statue of Mary was salvaged from the Hooghly River, further solidifying her role as a divine guardian.

Father John Chalil highlights the deep-rooted reverence for the goddess in Bengal, with devotees from across India seeking refuge at the Bandel Church. Nuns from five congregations have been serving the shrine since the 1950s, fostering social harmony amid religious diversity.

Local communities often transcend religious differences through mutual support.

Sister Nirmala discusses initiatives where nuns educate surrounding villages on women’s rights and tribal welfare. Despite rising religious polarization in India, the faith in Mary remains unshaken, with nuns offering spiritual nourishment to devotees.

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and other congregations such as the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate provide vital care and counseling services. Anti-Christian violence has surged since the BJP came to power in 2014, with vigilante groups disrupting services and targeting clergy. AC Michael, national coordinator for United Christian Forum, notes a systemic network of persecutions resulting in 831 attacks against Christians in 2022.

West Bengal was traditionally safer for religious minorities, but the BJP’s recent state election victory has increased concerns, leading to attacks on Christian communities in the region. Despite these challenges, bands of nuns, including those in Bandel, remain determined to preserve peace.

Sister Philomena Mathew emphasizes the importance of confronting disturbances to peace, as demonstrated by the efforts of nuns in the Missionaries of Charity. While Bandel itself hasn’t been a focal point of violence, political and festival-related communal clashes occur in the broader area.

Sister Jesline Rose, serving at Bandel Church, reiterates the commitment to pluralism despite the political changes in Bengal. Regular visits to Hindu and Muslim families offer spiritual support and community solidarity.

During festivals, the nuns manage numerous devotees, fostering unity across religious lines. The basilica stands as a cultural monument, with the nuns embodying the protective spirit of Mary. Many locals, including Rimpa Chowdhury, admire the nuns’ resilience against rising religious intolerance.

With misgivings about increasing polarization, Chowdhury acknowledges the nuns as a beacon of hope, representing Mary’s protection.