SAINT. GEORGE FEAST PALIAKARA CHURCH Panchayath/ Municipality/ Thiruvalla Municipality Corporation LOCATION District Pathanamthitta Nearest Town/ Thiruvalla Town – 2 Km Landmark/ Junction Thiruvalla Chanda Bus stop – 200 M Nearest Bus station Nearest Railway Thiruvalla Railway station – 3.800 Km station ACCESSIBILITY Trivandrum International Airport – 128 Km Nearest Airport cochin International Airport – 118 Km Paliakara church Kayamkulam-Thiruvalla Hwy, Thiruvalla, Pin - 689101 Contact: 0469 260 3140 CONTACT Web; http://www.paliakarachurch.com DATES FREQUENCY DURATION May, Malayalam month Medom, Yearly 5 days TIME ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) This is the first Church in Pathanamthitta district dedicated to St George. History of Paliakara Church As Niranam church was a little bit far away from Tiruvalla, people felt much difficulty in traveling every week up to Niranam. So they decided to find a place in Tiruvalla itself and build a church there. The Christian leaders in Tiruvalla jointly submitted a request to the authorities to grant permission to build a church. The rulers of the land of Tiruvalla were a group of Brahmin families called "Pathillathil Potties". Those who opposed the church formation went to one of the Potties and got a stay order in the subject. Thus a strong dispute arose between Christians and upper caste-Hindus of the place. Men of 18 major Christian families met together and planned future actions. Within a single day and night, they built a small church with coconut leaves and bamboos. This was the starting of the now Paliakkara Church. The parish has over 700 families at present. There is no existing record for the date of the foundation of the first church, but the permanent church was completed and consecrated on March 20th, 1814 by Marthoma VIII. Later on, this church developed as a big shrine of the far and near, without any bar of caste and religion Feasts (Perunal) Parumala Mar GregoriosParumala Thirumeni, the first Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese stayed at Paliakara church overseeing the establishment of M G M Higher Secondary School, Tiruvalla. He also celebrated the 'last Passion week' at Paliakara church in 1901 April. The beautiful 'Kurisum thotty' established shortly after the demise of St Gregorios, at (now ) cross junction, Tiruvalla, is now under the church management. The main feast of St George is held from May ( Medam) every year. Above 10000 Local RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Feasts (Perunal)The main feast of St George is held from May (Malayalam month Medam) every year. The celebration was 5 days .The main attraction of the 'Perunal' is the colorful procession from St Thomas Sehion Chapel to the Colourful Procession Church, passing through the thorough fares of Thiruvalla Nercha vilambu town and next day evening, and another procession on Nercha Vilambu afternoon starting from the church, passing through Thekke puthen church, Kattappuram church and the ancient Kavil market, and reaching back to the church followed by a feast (Nercha-vilambu) to all devotees. Thousands of devotees, from different religious back ground take part in all these functions with great zeal and religious fervor .