Thousands of Catholics take a 30-kilometer annual Lantern pilgrimage on foot in Kerala
Thousands of Catholics in the southern Indian state of Kerala took a 30-kilometer annual Lantern pilgrimage on foot on April 6.
The 28th Palayur Great Pilgrimage at St. Thomas Major Archi Episcopal Shrine was led by Mar Thazhath Andrews, Metropolitan Archbishop of Trichur.
The Palayur Great Pilgrimage or "Palayur Mahatheerthadanam" (in Malayalam), is an annual Lenten festival held at the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church in Palayur, Kerala, India, in the Archdiocese of Thrissur.
The church at Palayur is considered an important Christian pilgrimage site and is believed to be the first church in India established by St. Thomas in 52 AD.
The "Great Pilgrimage" is a prominent annual event held during the Lenten season, drawing thousands of devotees from various backgrounds.
The church is in Palayur, Thrissur district, Kerala.
The festival involves a foot journey from Thrissur to Palayoor, 30 km.
Music, pyrotechnics, pageantry, special services, communal prayers, and cultural performances mark the festival.
Palayur has been a significant site for both spiritual pilgrimage and historical exploration, with its location near the Arabian Sea and connections to ancient trade centers like Muziris.
The festival shares similarities with Hindu festivals held on the same day in Thrissur, reflecting the syncretic cultural landscape of Kerala.
The church at Palayur has a continuous history of two millennia, standing on the same spot where St. Thomas first established it.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
