Annual Festival of St Antony’s Shrine begins in Katchatheevu
Devotees set off by boat from the Rameswaram fishing port to participate in the annual festival that began on Friday at the St. Anthony’s Temple in Katchatheevu.
Over 500 police officers are engaged in security work for their safety.
The St. Anthony’s Temple Festival in Katchatheevu, located between India and Sri Lanka, started with the flag-hoisting ceremony in the evening.
Programs including a special mass and chariot procession were held. The festival will conclude with the lowering of the flag after a joint prayer on Saturday morning.
In this regard, the flagpole was installed yesterday, and over 8,000 devotees have participated in the festival.
Although Katchatheevu was given to Sri Lanka under the India-Sri Lankan Treaty of 1974, the annual festival of St. Anthony’s Church there continues to be an event that brings the people of both countries together.
Last year, Indian devotees boycotted going to Katchatheevu due to the fishermen’s issue.
However, this year, at the invitation of the Sri Lankan government, 3,464 Indian devotees are going in 78 fishing boats.
For this, devotees left from Rameswaram by boat on Friday morning.
The first boat going to the Katchatheevu festival was flagged off by Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kalon and District Superintendent of Police Santhees.
Earlier, the police checked the belongings of the devotees.
Subsequently, they have also advised the passengers to follow the safety guidelines while traveling by sea.
