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Walter Pinto and the art of grotto-making

Last Updated 18 February 2015, 18:34 IST

He likes the proverb Work is Worship and loves to follow it, literally. For Walter Pinto, who designed the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto beside the newly built chapel at St Anne’s Friary in Mangaluru, it was a new milestone in his mission of inspiring people to pray the Almighty. 

Grotto designing is not new to this young man. Walter Pinto, who runs Pinto Cement Products along with his brother Lancy Pinto at Vamanjoor in Mangaluru, has already designed more than 612 grottos in various parts of the country. His works are at Bihar, Goa, Kerala and various parts of State including Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru and in Mangaluru.

The grotto of Mother of Sorrow church in Udupi, which is 35 feet width, 16 feet length and 24 feet height, is the biggest of his creation till date.

Recalling the journey, Walter Pinto said: “It was almost 18 years back in 1996, then parish priest of Vamanjoor church Fr Bonaventure Nazareth had invited me to construct a grotto. As the grotto became popular, I received many offers. Now, we have expert workers from Jharkand, Hauvery, along with local labourers.”

‘God gift, not a business’
Walter Pinto firmly believes that the grotto making art is a God gift to him. Opportunities are coming without any advertisement or publicity. So, he never calls it as his business, but as mission. “When it comes to business part, I do landscaping, designing gardens, waterfalls and fountains. We are planning to establish an industry of devotional products made up of cement in coming days,” he added.

The young designer believes more in talent, though he has passed courses on civil engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) and Karnataka Polytechnic College (KPT). His father was a civil contractor. With building profile and increasing fame, now Walter Pinto has decided to launch a personal website soon.
Walter Pinto has received more than 300 honours for his unique achievement. Meanwhile, he didn’t forget to mention the motivation and support that he got from Mangaluru Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.


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(Published 18 February 2015, 18:34 IST)

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