Maramon Convention Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church

MARAMON CONVENTION MALANKARA MAR THOMA SYRIAN CHURCH

Panchayat/ Kozhenchery Panchayat Municipality/ Corporation

Nearest Town/ Kozhencherry Town – 600 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Maramon Private Bus Station – 400 m

Nearest Railway Chengannur Railway Station - 14 Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Trivandrum International Airport -115 Km

Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Thiruvalla, Kerala, India - 689 101 Phone : +91-469-2630449,2606080, 2606090 Website – [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] CONTACT [email protected]

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME 12th February 2017 to 19th February 2017 Annual 4 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

The Maramon Convention, largest Christian convention in Asia, is held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge. It is organized by Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church.The Maramon Convention, one of the largest Christian convention in Asia, is held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge. It is organised by Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma ChurchThe origin and growth of this annual get-together for one week at a stretch can be traced to the great revival movement which gathered momentum during the reformation period in the Syrian Church's of Kerala under the pioneering leadership of Abraham Malpan in the latter part of 19th century.

Above 1 lakh International RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Religios speeches Prayers social activities Bible Reading The Maramon Convention is pre-eminently an assembly of Christians who once a year come here for listening to the Word of God as read and expounded by Christian leaders from all over India as well as abroad. Introduction and promotion of Church activities and Preaching occupy the major part of the convention programme. In the morning there will be separate Bible study classes for Men, women, youth and children conducted by specially invited leaders. The mornings and afternoons are public meetings and in the evening, meetings are for men only. Four of the afternoon public meetings are for ‘Facing the challenges of Social evils as Christians’. The choir leads the singing and the introduction of voguish songs and the whole gathering joins in singing.A hymn book with 101 hymns including 16 new ones are printed every year for the convention use. Everyday half an hour is spent for intercessory prayer. Also there are family gatherings, youth meetings and special gatherings after the afternoon session. Maramon Convention is held for eight days during the first week of the Great Lent that usually falls in February. The tent has a seating capacity in excess of 160,000 people. They are seated on the dry sand bed. Old and weak are given sponsored-paid chairs to sit on. There is also a smaller tent erected next to the larger one for people with infants and with children below 5. All around the temporary tent there are prayer and rest sheds and other tents for various purposes related to the Church. Stalls for the sale of religious literature and other items, church mission advertisement and funding offices and restaurants are allowed to operate in the vicinity of the tent under the control of the Church authorities.