This Unique Festival Sees Thousands Of Pilgrims Sail From Tamil Nadu To Sri Lanka For Worship — Know Details

<p>Rameswaram witnessed a profound display of devotion as over 3,400 pilgrims embarked on their sea voyage to Katchatheevu Island on Friday. The journey marks the beginning of the annual two-day festival at St Anthony&rsquo;s Church, a revered site for worshippers from both India and Sri Lanka. The festival draws thousands of devotees each year, strengthening cultural and religious ties between the two nations.</p>
<h3>The Legacy Of St Anthony&rsquo;s Shrine</h3>
<p>Founded in 1905, St. Anthony&rsquo;s Shrine on Katchatheevu Island holds deep significance, particularly for the fishing communities of India and Sri Lanka. Dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of fishermen, the shrine serves as a spiritual sanctuary for countless devotees.</p>
<p>The festival, typically observed in February or March, provides a rare opportunity for Indian and Sri Lankan worshippers to unite in prayer without requiring passports or visas. This annual event underscores the shared cultural and spiritual heritage of the region.</p>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WATCH</a> | Tamil Nadu: Devotees from Rameswaram begin their voyage across the sea to participate in the two-day annual St. Anthony’s Church festival being held on Katchatheevu Island. Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon inspected the dispatch of devotees from&hellip; <a href=”https://t.co/I8Jr6GY3xc”>pic.twitter.com/I8Jr6GY3xc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1900378282094453167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h3>Pilgrimage Highlights&nbsp;</h3>
<p>This year, to ensure a smooth and secure journey, Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon supervised the pilgrims’ departure from the Rameswaram jetty. Authorities, including the Police, Coast Guard, Customs, and Immigration, coordinated efforts to facilitate the travel process.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kahlon told ANI, “Today, around 3400 pilgrims are going to Katchatheevu Island. So, all the arrangements have been made in coordination with the Police, Coast Guard, Customs and Immigration. So, &nbsp;all the settings are in place. We started the process at around 5 am. Now, the first convoy is ready to depart. So, we have provided all the first aid kits, life jackets, lifebuoys for the safety of the passengers. We wish them a good voyage.”</p>
<p>Father Ashok Vino, the festival coordinator, outlined the key religious observances, which include the flag hoisting, the Way of the Cross, the Eucharistic celebration, and the grand festival mass. Pilgrims are expected to return to Rameswaram by Saturday morning.</p>
<p>To streamline travel procedures, devotees carried essential identification documents such as Aadhaar cards, ID proofs, and Police No Objection Certificates (NOCs).</p>