From Vision to Devotion: The Story of the Shrine of Mother Mary of Partama in Odisha

It was an ordinary evening in 1994 when Kamoladevi, a Hindu widow, ascended a quiet hill in her native village of Partama in Odisha. As she paused in silent contemplation, she suddenly saw a man in white standing before her. Before she could gather her thoughts, he vanished. The experience left her shaken yet intrigued.

Days later, a more astonishing vision followed: a radiant woman appeared to her at the same place. The woman identifying herself as the Mother of Jesus. She instructed Kamoladevi to approach the local Catholic priest and urge him to establish a place of prayer at the site of the apparition. A few days later, the same woman appeared again to Kamoladevi at the same spot. This time, she instructed her to spread the devotion of the Holy Rosary among the people of her village. 

Scepticism greeted Kamoladevi’s revelations when she confided in her neighbours, but she remained undeterred. With unwavering faith, she sought out Father Alphonse Baliarsingh, the parish priest and vicar general at the time. Moved by her testimony, he, along with a small village committee, decided to build a grotto at the very site of the apparitions. Under the shade of the sacred banyan tree, the first prayers were whispered, and a new chapter in Marian devotion began.

As the shrine took form, Kamoladevi herself experienced a profound transformation. Her devotion deepened, and she ultimately embraced Catholicism, receiving baptism under the name Agnes. 

What started as a modest place of prayer soon grew into a beacon of faith. Over the years, thousands of devotees, including many Hindus, made pilgrimages to what became known as the Shrine of Mother Mary of Partama, drawn by its spiritual serenity and miraculous accounts of answered prayers.

A Celebration of Faith and Unity

At the shrine, a Marian feast is celebrated every year in the month of March. The feast was celebrated in March 2025, drawing an awe-inspiring 15,000 pilgrims. The air was thick with devotion as prayers and hymns echoed through the shrine. The faithful gathered not only to honour Mother Mary but also to pray for the beatification of 35 Servants of God who had been martyred during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal.

Leading the celebration was Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who delivered an inspiring homily during the Feast Mass. “Mother Mary knows our needs. With love and concern, she intercedes for us before her Son, Jesus Christ, offering comfort and guidance in our lives,” he said. Reflecting on the miracle at the wedding at Cana, Archbishop Barwa urged the faithful to lift up all their needs to Jesus, while seeking the intercession of his mother Mary.

The significance of the occasion was marked by the presence of around 50 priests and 30 religious nuns, as well as lay devotees from diverse backgrounds. Among them was Anita Pradhan, widow of Sibino Pradhan, one of the martyrs for whom the beatification prayers were offered. Her voice wavered with emotion as she said, “I seek Mother Mary’s advocacy for my husband’s beatification. He professed his faith in Christ with courage and humility.”

What makes the Marian shrine of Partama remarkable is not just its origin story but the spirit of unity it fosters. Year after year, Hindu and Christian devotees alike light candles, whisper prayers, and offer their petitions under the watchful gaze of Mother Mary. Father Pradosh Chandra Nayak, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, aptly summed up the sentiment:

 “This celebration is a testament to brotherhood, unity, love, and peace. The shrine stands as a place of divine solace for all who seek it.”

From a lonely widow’s vision on a quiet hill to a thriving centre of devotion, the story of Partama’s Marian shrine is one of faith, perseverance, and divine grace. And as the bells tolled in the crisp March air, it was clear—this sacred place would continue to inspire countless souls for generations to come.

By Catholic Connect Reporter