 An example of the Soviet interference occurred during the pilgrimage in 1979, when the government blocked all of the roads to Šiluva under the pretext that an epidemic of swine fever was rampant in the vicinity.Throughout its turbulent history, Šiluva has remained the spiritual center for the Catholic faithful from many parts of Lithuania.The Feast of Šiluva has experienced a tremendous revival following the reestablishment of independence in 1990.