RAMANATHAPURAM: Seventy-six pilgrims from Rameswaram set off to Katchatheevu Island to take part in the annual two-day festival at St Antony’s Church. Though the number of devotees is fewer compared to yesteryears, this year they made it to the festival after making a series of representations to the Sri Lankan government as the organisers had initially denied permission to pilgrims from India due to the pandemic.
This year the festival will be held on Friday and Saturday (March 11 and 12). Following efforts taken by chief minister M K Stalin through the ministry of external affairs and through senior party leaders with the Sri Lankan fisheries minister, the organisers initially permitted 50 devotees from India to participate in the annual event, which also turns out into a reunion of kin in the two countries who have not met for long.
“On Wednesday, the organisers increased the number of Indian pilgrims who can participate in the festival to 100. But since it was a very short notice, we could not make the necessary arrangements,” Devasahayam the parish priest of the church in Verkottu, Rameswaram, and coordinator of the pilgrimage who is among the pilgrims told reporters before heading to Katchatheevu by boat with the 75 others.
In all 81 pilgrims applied for the pilgrimage of which five could not make it on Friday. The 76 pilgrims including two women started from Rameswaram harbour in three mechanised boats and a fibre boat. After verification and precautionary measures such as wearing the floats, they started from Rameswaram between 11.30 am and noon for their three hour voyage to Katchatheevu.
They will take part in the festival on Friday evening that will begin with the flag hoisting. The celebrations will continue till Saturday morning, after which the Indian pilgrims will start to Rameswaram around 9 am. “Though this is an annual festival, it was not organised last year due to the pandemic,” P Jesuraj the secretary of the Rameswaram all mechanised boats fishermen association said.
He added that before the pandemic, around 2,000 to 5,000 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu would take part in the traditional festival that is important for fishermen of both the countries. He thanked the Centre and the state governments for making it possible for the pilgrims to make it to the festival this year.
Sri Lankan fisheries minister Douglas Devananda met representatives of fishermen bodies from Rameswaram at Katchatheevu on Friday afternoon and listened to the issues faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen while fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The representatives also pressed for a permanent solution for the issues so that the livelihood of fishermen from both the countries is not affected.
This year the festival will be held on Friday and Saturday (March 11 and 12). Following efforts taken by chief minister M K Stalin through the ministry of external affairs and through senior party leaders with the Sri Lankan fisheries minister, the organisers initially permitted 50 devotees from India to participate in the annual event, which also turns out into a reunion of kin in the two countries who have not met for long.
“On Wednesday, the organisers increased the number of Indian pilgrims who can participate in the festival to 100. But since it was a very short notice, we could not make the necessary arrangements,” Devasahayam the parish priest of the church in Verkottu, Rameswaram, and coordinator of the pilgrimage who is among the pilgrims told reporters before heading to Katchatheevu by boat with the 75 others.
In all 81 pilgrims applied for the pilgrimage of which five could not make it on Friday. The 76 pilgrims including two women started from Rameswaram harbour in three mechanised boats and a fibre boat. After verification and precautionary measures such as wearing the floats, they started from Rameswaram between 11.30 am and noon for their three hour voyage to Katchatheevu.
They will take part in the festival on Friday evening that will begin with the flag hoisting. The celebrations will continue till Saturday morning, after which the Indian pilgrims will start to Rameswaram around 9 am. “Though this is an annual festival, it was not organised last year due to the pandemic,” P Jesuraj the secretary of the Rameswaram all mechanised boats fishermen association said.
He added that before the pandemic, around 2,000 to 5,000 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu would take part in the traditional festival that is important for fishermen of both the countries. He thanked the Centre and the state governments for making it possible for the pilgrims to make it to the festival this year.
Sri Lankan fisheries minister Douglas Devananda met representatives of fishermen bodies from Rameswaram at Katchatheevu on Friday afternoon and listened to the issues faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen while fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The representatives also pressed for a permanent solution for the issues so that the livelihood of fishermen from both the countries is not affected.