ARTHUNKAL FEAST
St. Andrew's Forance Church at Arthunkal, one of the sacred
churches in Kerala, attracts lakhs of devotees both Christians
and non-Christians every year from all parts of the State.
The
feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated on a grand scale for eleven
days in a year.Owing
to the unmanageable crowding of pilgrims and the resultant confusion
on January 20 the final day of the feast, the church authorities
have instituted another minor feast on the 8th day after the
principal feast. This is known as Ettamperunnal. Of late this
feast also has attained as much importance as the principal
feast.
Getting
there:
Nearest railway station: Alappuzha, about 22 kms away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 kms
away from Alappuzha.
BHARANAMGANAM
FEAST
Bharanamganam, a small village town in Meenachal Taluk of Kottayam
District, has been famous for long as one of the hallowed places
in Kerala.
It
is about 14 miles from the Ettumanoor railway station. Bharabangaban
has always been a refuge of the afflicted and the miserable
as well as of the faithful.
It is here that the famous St. Mary's Forance Church, one of
the oldest churches in Kerala dedicated to the Holy Mother,
stands, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the country.
The important annual festivals of this church are the Feast
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated on the 9th of November,
and the Feast of St. Sebastian on the 20th of January. >>top
EDAPPALLY
PERUNAL
Every year 'Forty hour devotion' marks the commencement of the
festival. The festival begins on the 23rd of April with solemn
High Mass and Litany. On the 25th flag is hoisted solemnly and
ceremoniously. >>top
EDATHUA
FESTIVAL
The
St. George's church at Edathua stands on the bank of the river
Pampa, sixteen miles southeast Alappuzha. This church is famous
for the feast of St. George celebrated every year in the month
of Medam (April-May).
It
takes place from 27th April till 7th of May. Though the festival
lasts for 11 days, only last couple of days carry all the aspects
of a major festival. Hence calendars reckon the 6th of May as
the feast day.
During
the feast at Edathua Church, the statue of St. George, decked
in gold is carried out in procession and placed on the dais
at the centre of the Basilica. Processions are held everyday
and dazzling fireworks are the major highlight of the initial
as well as the concluding day's rituals. >>top
KADAMATTOM
FEAST
Mainly two feasts are celebrated in this church, one on the
24th and 25th of Makaram (January-February) and the other on
23rd of Medam (April-May). The former is the most important. >>top
KALLOOPPARA
PERUNAL
St.Mary's Church at Kallooppara stands in close proximity to
the Kallooppara Bhagavathy temple. Inside the church, on its
eastern and western wings, there are two granite slabs with
some inscriptions in the Pali language.
The
Palli perunal and the foundation day of the Church are the two
celebrations held on January 15 and July 5 respectively. >>top
KORATTY
FEAST
About seven kilometers to the south of Chalakudy, there is an
ancient and beautiful village called Koratty. There is an old
catholic church there built in honour of St. Mary which is locally
known as "Koratty Muthy's Church".
The most important festival in this church is the 'Koratty Muthy's
festival celebrated during the second week of October every
year. >>top
MALAYATTUR
FEAST
St.
Thomas shrine at Malayattur a village about six miles to the
north of Kaladi, Ernakulam District is believed to be one of
the ancient catholic shrines in the northern part of the state.
The
chief festival at the shrine falls on the second Sunday, since
the first moon, after the Vernal Equinox (March 21). The Feast,
therefore, falls generally in the month of April or at times
in the last week of March. The Octave is celebrated on the following
Sunday. The pilgrims have to climb a hill nearly 2000 feet high
and on top of it is the church. >>top
MANJINIKKARA
CHURCH FESTIVAL
The church and Dayara at Manjinikkara derives its importance
from the holy tomb there. The sacred body of the late lgnatius
Elise III, the holy patriarch of Antioch and all the East was
interned there.
Members of the Jacobite Syrian Church believe that the Holy
Father was a Saint. The Church has now become one of the foremost
places of pilgrimage. >>top
MARAMON
CONVENTION (From
February 19 to 26)
Maramon
and Kozhencherry , on the banks of the river Pampa, 16 kilometers
east of Tiruvalla, have for centuries been recognized as centres
of Christian culture and influence.
Maramon is also famous as the birth place of Palakkunnathu Abraham
Maplah, leader of the reformation in the Syrian Church of Malabar
in the 19th century. This village which developed into a town
has the added distinction of being the venue of a religious
gathering known as Maramon convention, said to be the largest
Christian gathering in Asia.
It is during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the
river Pampa below the Kozhenchery bridge that the Maramon Convention
is held every year.
The Maramon Convention displays co-operation and union between
different sections of Church in Kerala. It fosters ecumenical
outlook. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration and enlightenment
for thousands.
The
111th edition of Maramon Convention, billed as Asia's largest
annual Christian congregation, will be held on the sand-bed
of the Pampa at Maramon near Kozhencherry from February 19 to
26. The convention is organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelical
Association (MTEA), the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Syrian
Church of Malabar.
Fr.
Mathew said that Mar Thoma Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom
would inaugurate the convention at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. Joseph
Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan, Zacharias Mar Theophilus
Suffragan Metropolitan and other bishops of the Church will
lead different sessions during the week-long meet. He said there
would be three main sessions, at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 7
p.m., from February 20 to 25 and the valedictory session would
be held at 2.30 p.m. on February 26. Evangelists Bishop David
J.L. Hawkins (England), Bill Newman (Australia), Martin Alphons
(U.S.) and Sam Kamalesan (U.S.) will deliver discourses at different
sessions. An ecumenical meeting will be held at 10.30 a.m. and
a meeting against social evils at 2.30 p.m. on February 22.
The Voluntary Evangelistic
Association meeting will be held on February 23 afternoon.
The annual
meeting of the Mar Thoma Sevika Sanghom will be held at 2.30
p.m. on February 24 and a missionary meet on Saturday afternoon.
>>top
NIRANAM
FESTIVAL
Of
all the places hallowed in the annals of Christianity in India,
Niranam holds pride of place.
In social, cultural, literary and political matters, this small
village has kept up its own distinctive, pristine traditions.
The
fame of Niranam must have reached Syria and weighed most with
St. Thomas. He is believed to have visited Niranam in 53AD,
erected a crucifix, founded and built a church on the site.
The
main religious festival is in honour of the Holy Mother on August
15. Special mass is held on that day. The birthday of St. Mary
is celebrated on a grand scale on 8th September. The feast of
St. Thomas is celebrated on 3rd July. >>top
RAKKULI
THIRUNAL
Rakkuli Thirunal is the terminology of Common parlance to denote
the feast of Epiphany celebrated every year on the 6th January
in the St. Thomas Cathedral Church at Pala. It has been the
occasion of a vast fair where articles of every necessity are
exhibited for sale. >>top
ST.DOMINIC
SYRIAN CHURCH FEAST
The feast of St . Dominic church at Aluva falls on the third
Sunday after the Easter. The statue of the Saint is taken out
in procession on that day. The feast of "Our Lady of the
Holy Rosary" also consists of a spectacular procession
on the Sunday after 8th of December. >>top
FEAST
AT ST. JOSEPH'S SHRINE
The
annual feast at the shrine of St. Joseph is celebrated on the
last Sunday of January. >>top
THUMBOLY
FEAST
The parish of Thumboly is renowned for its beautifully constructed
church, called after St. Thomas and also dedicated to the Blessed
Virgin Mary. The feast of our lady which lasts for 11 days ending
on December 8th. >>top
VETTUKAD
FESTIVAL
The
most important feast celebrated in this church situated on the
outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram is of Christ, the King. This
feast is observed for ten days. The annual festival at the Madre-de-Deus
church, Vettucaud will start on November 11 with a Holy Mass
and the raising of the ceremonial flag.
Prayer meetings and rituals will mark the 10-day festival. Tens
of thousands of devotees are expected to participate in the
Holy Mass on November 18 and the procession carrying the figure
of Christ-the-King on November 19. The festival will draw to
close on November 20 with a Mass.
On the tenth day, after the vespers in the church, there is
a procession which goes round the parish lasting for about 1
½ hours. On the final day there will be a solemn high
mass, sermon, eucharistic procession and benediction. The attendance
for this feast is well over 50,000. >>top
