MOONNU NOMBU FEAST ST. ALPHONSA SHRINE CHURCH AND PILGRIM CENTRE

Panchayat/ Municipality/ Kuravilangad Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Pala Town– 5 Km Landmark/ Junction

Mary Giri Bus Stop – 600 m Nearest Bus station

Nearest Railway Railway Station – 11.9 Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 65.3 Km

Marth Mariam Forane Church Kuravilangad – 686633 Phone: +91-4822-230224 Email: [email protected] CONTACT Website: www.kuravilangadpally.com

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME January - February Annual 3 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

God called to Jonah one day and told him to go preach to Nineveh because the people were very wicked. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel's greatest enemies and Jonah wanted nothing to do with preaching to them! Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction of Nineveh and headed by boat to Tarsish. God sent a great storm upon the ship and the men decided Jonah was to blame so they threw him overboard. As soon as they tossed Jonah in the water, the storm stopped. God sent a big fish; some call it a whale, to swallow Jonah and to save him from drowning. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. For three days Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh. Jonah preached to Nineveh and warned them to repent before the city is destroyed in 40 days. The people believed Jonah, turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them. But Jonah was angry as he did not wish to have Nineveh spared, because it was the enemy of his own land; and also he feared that men would call him a false prophet when his word did not come to pass. And Jonah said to the Lord he was sure that it would be thus, that thou would spare the city; and for that reason he tried to flee away, for he know that thou was a gracious God, full of pity, slow to anger, and rich in mercy. So he asked to take away his life, for it is better to die than to live. And Jonah went out of the city, and built a little hut on the east side of it, and sat under its roof, to see whether God would keep the word that he had spoken. Then the Lord caused a plant with thick leaves to grow up and to shade Jonah from the sun; and Jonah was glad, and sat under its shadow. But a worm destroyed the plant; and the next day a hot wind blew, and Jonah suffered from the heat; and again Jonah wished that he might die. And the Lord said to Jonah that he was sorry to see the plant die, though he did not make it grow, and though it came up in a night and died in a night. And should not Lord have pity on Nineveh, that great city, where are more than a hundred thousand little children, and also many cattle, all helpless and knowing nothing. And Jonah learned that men, and women, and little children, are all precious in the sight of the Lord, even though they know not God. The Moonnu Nombu Feast is celebrated in remembrance of Prophet Jonah.

Local Approximately 1000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Boat Procession The Ceremonial Procession on the second day of the feast Ceremonial Procession when the replica of the vessel used by prophet Jonah of the Oil Offering OT is taken out is the main attraction of the feast. The Special prayers people of the Kadapoor locality have the privilege to carry Mass the vessel during the procession. The statue of the Blessed Chenda Melam Virgin Mary kept at the side altar is unique. It is carved from Elephant Procession granite and it is believed that it was brought from North . This is a miraculous statue and the devotees call this statue Kuravilangad Muthiyamma. The granite cross in a single block of 48 feet in front of the church was erected around 1597. The devotees offer coconut oil in the lamps at the foot of the cross. On first day devotees stand in queue from early morning to late in the evening to offer oil. An ancient bell with the engraving on Syriac Mother of God speaks loudly of the traditional faith of Christian community here in . Three majestic bells that peal out the glory of Kuravilangad were brought from Germany in 1911.The eight tongued coconut scraper is a marvel in carpentry. It is carved out of a single block of wood. It was used to scrape coconuts for the Monnu Nombu feast. Special prayers and Mass will be conducted with respect to the Feast.