ST JOHN DE BRITTO'S FEAST ST JOHN DE BRITTOS CHURCH

Panchayath/ Municipality/ Kollam Corporation Corporation

LOCATION District Kollam Corporation

Nearest Town/ Sakhthikulangara Town Landmark/ Junction

Sakhthikulangara Bus Stop-2.5 Km Nearest Bus station

Nearest Railway Kollam Railway Station – 8 Km station ACCESSIBILITY Trivandrum International Airport- 72 Km Nearest Airport

St John De Britto Church, Sakthikulangara, Kollam- 691581 Phone :+91-9447077438 (church) CONTACT Email: [email protected] Website: www.stjohndebritto.com

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

January /February; ; Feast day comes on Annual 1 Day TIME February 4thor on the following Sunday.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

Saint John de Britto also known as Arul Anandarwas a Portuguese Jesuit and martyr, often called "the Portuguese St. " by Indian Catholics. He can be called the John the Baptist of

India. Catholic Feast days are days set aside to remember important people who lived extraordinary lives. Most saints and holy people have specially designated feast days. On those days we remember these holy men and women in a special way. The feast (perunal) is celebrated either on 4th Feb or on the following Sundayif the feast day falls on a week day.

Local Approx. 25000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

The feast (perunal) is celebrated either on 4th Feb or on the following Sundayif the feast day falls on a week day. Flag Hoisting The perunnalis celebrated with all pomp and show. Starting Samoohabali with a flag hoisting ceremony to mark the beginning of the Dhyanam festival, Church is decorated with colorful lights and Special Prayers illuminations that time. Religious discourses and special Cultural Programmes prayers were takes place during the festive days. The Novena major attraction of the festival (perunal) is the colorful Divyabali procession (pradakshinam)on the eve of the festival day Spiritual Discourses which goes round almost the whole of Sakthikulangara, Procession with a good number of people lining up for the procession Fire Works carrying decorated statues of the saints and Mother

Mary.The processionis received by the devotees on the entire route with illumination and fireworks.