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Devotees Sail to Katchatheevu for Annual Church Festival Amid Pongal Celebrations

The annual festival at St. Anthony's Church on Katchatheevu island has begun, marked by the flag-hoisting ceremony. Nearly 4,000 pilgrims departed from Rameswaram port after thorough checks by multiple authorities. Concurrently, Pongal celebrations were observed statewide, including traditional cooking at a Chennai police station and a church. In Madurai, the Jallikattu bull-taming event drew large crowds as a key cultural highlight of the harvest festival.

Key Points: Katchatheevu Church Festival Begins, Pilgrims Depart Rameswaram

  • 3,996 pilgrims depart Rameswaram
  • Festival at India-Sri Lanka islet
  • Pongal celebrated across Tamil Nadu
  • Jallikattu held in Madurai
  • Police join festivities in Chennai
2 min read

Tamil Nadu: Katchatheevu church festival begins today, devotees depart from Rameswaram port

Thousands of devotees sail from Rameswaram to Katchatheevu for St. Anthony's Church festival as Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal with traditional events.

"The annual festival of St. Anthony's Church at Katchatheevu commenced on Friday with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag - Report"

Rameswaram, February 27

The annual festival of St. Anthony's Church at Katchatheevu commenced on Friday with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag, as thousands of devotees from Tamil Nadu began their journey to the island shrine.

A total of 3,996 pilgrims set off by sea to attend the festival at Katchatheevu, an islet located between India and Sri Lanka. The devotees departed from the Rameswaram port after completing mandatory checks by the police, revenue department, citizenship department, and customs authorities.

Officials oversaw the verification process to ensure smooth travel arrangements for the pilgrims heading to the church festival, which draws participants from the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu every year.

Earlier, Pongal celebrations were observed with enthusiasm across different parts of Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, festivities were visible in several neighbourhoods, including KK Nagar, where police personnel celebrated the harvest festival with their families outside the station premises. The personnel at the KK Nagar Police Station cooked the traditional Pongal dish in a cauldron and marked the occasion together.

At St Matthias Catholic Church in Chennai, devotees also celebrated Pongal by preparing the traditional dish and exchanging greetings. The church premises witnessed people coming together in a spirit of harmony and thanksgiving. In Madurai, the traditional Jallikattu event was held at Avaniyapuram as part of the Pongal festivities. The bull-taming sport attracted large crowds, with at least 960 bull-tamers permitted to participate in the event, making it one of the key cultural highlights of the harvest festival.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Good to see the authorities facilitating the travel. The coordination between police, revenue, and customs is crucial for such sensitive cross-border pilgrimages. Hope the festival strengthens the cultural bonds in the region.
M
Michael C
Interesting article that shows the beautiful diversity of Tamil Nadu's festivals - from the Christian pilgrimage to Katchatheevu to the Hindu Pongal celebrations and Jallikattu. India's cultural tapestry is truly unique.
S
Siddharth J
While I appreciate the coverage of the festival, I wish the article had given more historical context about Katchatheevu itself. Many younger readers might not know about the island's significance or the 1974 agreement. Just a respectful suggestion for more depth in future pieces.
K
Kavya N
The blend of traditions in this article is wonderful! Pongal celebrations at a police station and a church show how our festivals bring everyone together. And Jallikattu in Madurai - pure Tamil culture! 🎉
A
Aman W
Safe travels to all 3,996 pilgrims! The number itself shows the devotion. These cross-border religious events require delicate handling, and it's good to see everything is organized properly. Faith transcends boundaries.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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