Trichy: S Ravi of Kottapalayam may be a Hindu but not once has the 51-year-old mechanic missed the annual church car festival in his village.
And it is not because of his close friendship with A Luruthuraj, a Christian and fellow villager. It is the traditional practice that binds him with the festival of another religion.
Like Ravi, several other Hindus take part in the annual car festival of St Mary Mc Donald’s Church celebrated in July.
The nearly 100 Christian families in the village without fail invite fellow villagers, irrespective of the religion, for the festival.
The week-long festival starts with the flag hoisting at which the priests of the church make it a point to invite all fellow villagers.
It is not just a goodwill gesture and people of all religions come together to pull the church car.
“We do not see it as a festival of another religion. Except for the deity in the church car, it is no different from the car festival of the Samayapuram Mariamman temple,” says Ravi.
More than being a religious festival, the event in Kottapalayam brings people from different religions on to a single platform, reported The Times of India.
Though many Christian families have migrated to other districts and even gone outside the state to take up jobs, they make it a point to visit the church festival every year.
Meanwhile, Hindus too ensure that the church priest is invited for the Mariamman temple function in the village.
It may be unusual for those who see such festivals for the first time, but it is nothing unusual, say the villagers.