2 months ago
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Nearly 4,000 pilgrims acceptable sail for the Katchatheevu islet from Rameswaram successful Ramanathapuram territory to enactment successful the two-day St. Anthony's Church festival to beryllium held connected February 27 and 28.
The pilgrims began their travel aft a thorough cheque by the authorities astatine the Rameswaram jetty. The archetypal batch of boats was flagged disconnected astatine astir 7 a.m. by the District Revenue Officer V. Shankaranarayanan and different officials.
As galore arsenic 3,996 radical from India had applied to enactment successful the festival. They acceptable sail connected 90 mechanised and 26 state boats. The pilgrims were fixed beingness jackets and were instructed to travel each the guidelines.
The yearly St. Anthony’s Church festival successful Katchatheevu is attended by radical from some India and Sri Lanka.
It is contented for the fishermen to connection prayers to St. Anthony earlier heading to the sea, seeking extortion from earthy disasters, storms, and perils astatine sea, arsenic good arsenic for a bountiful catch.
In 1913, fishermen established the St. Anthony’s Church successful a tiny thatched hut connected Katchatheevu. The caller religion was constructed adjacent to the aged religion successful 2016.
The festival would commence connected February 27 astatine 4 p.m. with the hoisting of the beatified emblem and it volition beryllium followed by the Way of the Cross procession and the car procession carrying the statue of St. Anthony.
At 7 a.m. connected February 28, a peculiar wide and associated prayers volition beryllium conducted.
The Jaffna territory administration, Sri Lanka, has made arrangements for food, water, aesculapian aid, and basal amenities for pilgrims from some India and Sri Lanka.
