Church fest in Katchatheevu: Over 2,500 from TN to attend

Official sources said as many as 2,570 pilgrims, including 480 women and 62 children, set sail to the Katchatheevu Island in 92 mechanised fishing boats and 22 country boats fitted with outboard engine from Rameswaram fishing jetty, after the mandatory security clearance.

Priest Fr A Antonysamy, Verkodu Parish (Rameswaram), who is the chief coordinator of the pilgrimage, was leading the pilgrims.The hovercrafts and patrol vessels of the Indian Coast Guard were escorting the pilgrims up to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) from where the pilgrims will be taken to the Katchatheevu Islet by Sri Lankan Navy.  

Though there was no need for visa and passport for the pilgrimage, the Indian authorities follows customs and immigration procedures.

The festival commenced with a flag-hoisting ceremony, followed by a car procession. The pilgrims will return to Rameswaram on Saturday evening.The 275-acre uninhabited Katchatheevu Island was ceded to Sri Lanka by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 as agoodwill gesture.

As per the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement, fishermen of both countries are allowed to fish near the Katchatheevu Island, dry their fishing nets and offer prayers at St Antony’s Church.

The Sri Lankan government banned entry of Indian citizens to participate in the St Antony’s church festival and also denied permission to the Indian fishermen to fish around the Island in 1982 after the outbreak of civil war.The Sri Lankan government lifted the ban on Indian pilgrims in 2010 after the end of decades-long civil war.