By Matters India Reporter
Rameswaram, July 26, 2019: More than 100,000 people belonging to different communities on July 24 participated in a chariot festival attached to a famous church in Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram city.
“Although it’s a Christian festival, people from other religions participate in it. It is only because of the faith the devotees throng the festival,” Ravichandrramavanni, the Union Chairman, Santhiya Rayapper Kovil, or St. James Santhiyagappar Church under Sivagangai diocese.
It is one of popular churches situated at Verkadu near Thangachimadam on the small island in the Gulf of Mannar.
“This year more than 100,000 devotees have already come and participated. This festival will continue for ten more days,” the chairman added.
According to him, the prime reason for people to thong the church is their strong faith in the healing power of the church.
The church was decorated with lights as chariots carrying statues of three saints were pulled through a crowd of devotees. Special prayers were also held to mark the auspicious occasion.
A large number of people were seen cheering and enjoying with their family members during the festival.
Rameswaram is the major holy destination also for Hindus. It has a number of temples, mosques and churches.
Christianity came to the island in the 16th century when the Portuguese people settled in it. The main person behind the establishment of the Church was Antony Criminolee in 1546.
St. James Church was built in 1644, was the first Catholic place of worship in the Island. Initially, it was a small shed where people gathered for prayer meetings. Church records show the church demolished on in 1933 and rebuilt severn years on the same location.
The church sports a Christian symbol, Hindu symbol (tower) and Islam symbol (crescent) to create a sense of equality of all religions. It takes the lead to foster the unity of various religions in Rameswaram.
Other churches in the island are St. Theresa of Infant Jesus, established in 1930, which is now a center for the Church’s social service, and St Joseph’s Church, built in second quarter of 16th century.