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Kachchativu draws large crowds for annual feast
View(s):The annual feast of St. Anthony’s church in Kachchativu drew a number of pilgrims to this small island close to the Northern Province, with
Kachchativu drew a number of pilgrims for the annual feast. Pix by Athula Devapriya
nearly 8,000 devotees attending Feast High Mass on March 1.
Mass was offered in the morning by Jaffna Diocese Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam.
Nearly half of the devotees present at the Mass were from South India, as St. Anthony, who is the patron saint of seafarers, is widely venerated in the north of Sri Lanka as well as in Rameswaram in South India among other Tamil areas.
High Mass at Kachchativu
The feast was organised by the Tamil Nadu Catholic Diocese.
Kachchativu shaken of its usual slumber for its annual sacred festival and the new visitors, looked busy on that first day of March. The island was full of temporary stalls selling merchandise including sweets and fancy toys and adding colour and life.
The annual feast, though a long tradition, did not take place for 26 years during the war, until it was begun again after the war in 2012.
The Sri Lanka Navy, under the supervision of Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, greatly facilitated the feast. The Navy supervised the provision of electricity, accommodation, drinking water, sanitary facilities and medical needs of the people. Temporary jetties were erected and life saving teams deployed for the benefit of the large number of pilgrims.
Kachchativu, situated 40 nautical miles from Kankesanturai, is part of the Delft Divisional Secretariat area.
 Small food stalls cash in on the crowds |  |