Panchayat/ Municipality/ , Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District Thiruvananthapuarm

Nearest Town/ Kalatharang Ground– 270 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus Station karumkulam Bus Stop – 200 m

Nearest Railway Thiruvananthapuarm Railway Station – 24.7 km Station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Trivandrum International Airport – 25.6 km

St. Andrew’s church Karumkulam : 695526 CONTACT Phone:0471-2210018 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME November 7th to 15th Annual 10 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Karumkulam village. Church is blessed by the presence of a statue of St. Mary. Andrew’s church at Karumkulam was the only church for the faithful from Valiathura to . So it was called “Mother Church” to popularize Marian Devotion. The statue of Fathimamatha was brought to Trivandrum in 1951. Karumkulam church was one of the few churches selected to receive the statue to be installed and offer prayers. Then onwards the Feast of Fathimamatha is celebrated devoutly in this parish. Our Lady of Fátima, formally known as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fátima, is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on the famed Marian apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal.

Local More than 3,000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) The festival begins with flag hoisting ceremony and after Special Prayers that special prayers are held. The statue of Virgin Mary is Flag hoisting taken out for procession on the feast day, it is a unique Masses experience for the faithful. Hundreds of people come Kurbana dressed in white garments to adore the holy Eucharist adds Novena to the beauty of other colourful decorations for the feast . Procession Special prayer, kurubana and novena are included in the festival.