Puthuppally Perunnal
Date : May 7 - 8, 2011
Venue : St. George Church, Puthuppally, Kottayam, Kerala
The renowned Puthuppally St. George Church is one of the oldest churches of the Malankara Orthodox Church.
It is believed that this church was originally established as a shrine of Changanacherry Pally which in turn was a shrine of Niranam palli, one of the famous Ezhara Pallis (seven and a half churches) consecrated by St. Thomas. Thousands come to this shrine, situated in the beautiful village of Puthuppally, about 8 km from Kottayam, to worship the patron saint St. George.
The annual feast known as Puthuppally Perunnal is celebrated on the 23rd and 24th of the Malayalam month of Medom, which usually corresponds to May 7th or 8th. It is attended by thousands of all castes and creeds and is a shining example of the communal harmony that Kerala has always been known for.
The celebrations start 10 days before the Feast with the ritualistic hoisting of flags. Devotees from Puthuppally and Ericadu bring arecanut palms to the church, to the accompaniment of band music. These are then blessed by the vicars and planted as flag poles. The ensuing days are a time of meditation and prayer in preparation for the Feast.
On the eve of the Feast, firewood is brought to the church in procession, by male members of all families of the parish. This firewood is used to prepare food during the ‘Vechoottu’ to be held the next day. That night, a colourful procession known as the rhasa is taken out from the church to the Puthuppally junction. Devotees wait on either side of the road with lighted lamps and candles in a display of faith and support for the rhasa.
Devotees make their way to the church in the night itself and by morning, the premises are chockfull with the faithful. The main function of the day is the Holy Mass led by the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This is followed by the ‘Vechoottu’ or grand feast. The festival is also noted for its main offering, the offering of fowls known as Kozhi Nercha.
Venue : St. George Church, Puthuppally, Kottayam, Kerala
The renowned Puthuppally St. George Church is one of the oldest churches of the Malankara Orthodox Church.
It is believed that this church was originally established as a shrine of Changanacherry Pally which in turn was a shrine of Niranam palli, one of the famous Ezhara Pallis (seven and a half churches) consecrated by St. Thomas. Thousands come to this shrine, situated in the beautiful village of Puthuppally, about 8 km from Kottayam, to worship the patron saint St. George.
The annual feast known as Puthuppally Perunnal is celebrated on the 23rd and 24th of the Malayalam month of Medom, which usually corresponds to May 7th or 8th. It is attended by thousands of all castes and creeds and is a shining example of the communal harmony that Kerala has always been known for.
The celebrations start 10 days before the Feast with the ritualistic hoisting of flags. Devotees from Puthuppally and Ericadu bring arecanut palms to the church, to the accompaniment of band music. These are then blessed by the vicars and planted as flag poles. The ensuing days are a time of meditation and prayer in preparation for the Feast.
On the eve of the Feast, firewood is brought to the church in procession, by male members of all families of the parish. This firewood is used to prepare food during the ‘Vechoottu’ to be held the next day. That night, a colourful procession known as the rhasa is taken out from the church to the Puthuppally junction. Devotees wait on either side of the road with lighted lamps and candles in a display of faith and support for the rhasa.
Devotees make their way to the church in the night itself and by morning, the premises are chockfull with the faithful. The main function of the day is the Holy Mass led by the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This is followed by the ‘Vechoottu’ or grand feast. The festival is also noted for its main offering, the offering of fowls known as Kozhi Nercha.
