CHURCH
FESTIVALS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
About
seven kilometres 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.
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 is
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.
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.
Maramon and
Kozhencherry , on the banks of the river Pampa, 16 kilometers
east of Tiruvalla, have for centuries been recognised
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.
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.
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.
ST.DOMINIC
SYRIAN CHURCH FEAST Aluva
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.
FEAST
AT ST. JOSEPH'S SHRINE Meppadi
The annual feast at the shrine of St. Joseph is celebrated on the
last Sunday of January.
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.
The
most important feast celebrated in this church situated
on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram is of Christ, the
King. This feast is observed for eleven days ending with
the last Sunday of October. 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.
