Church Festivals
Arthunkal Feast
St. Andrew's Forance Church at Arthunkal, one of the sacred
churches in Kerala, attracts lakhs of devotees both Christains 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 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 Ettumannoor 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.
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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.
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
Medom (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.
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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.
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.
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Koratty Feast
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.
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 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.
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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 Convention
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 Kozhencherry 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.
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Niranam Festivasl
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, Pala
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.
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ST.Dominic Syrian Church Feast, Aluva
The feast of St . Dominic church at Aluwa 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.
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Thumpoly Feast
The parish of Thumpoly 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.
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 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.
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