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By last night, 7000 Indian and Lankan pilgrims on Kachchativu island
More than 7,000 devotees from India and Sri Lanka had gathered in Kachchativu by last night to attend the annual St. Anthony’s mass to be held today.
The pilgrims had started arriving shortly after noon and more are expected this morning.
Around 300 priests and nuns were among the crowd.
Earlier in the day around 500 Lankan devotees who had set out for the feast from the Kurikattuwan jetty were stranded for hours in the scorching sun due to ongoing repairs to some of the boats that were to take them across.
According to the Navy the Jaffna District Secretariat had organised 15 boats to operate a passenger service to the island.
Navy spokesperson Captain Akram Alavi speaking to the Sunday Times around 2 p.m. said the Navy was attending to the matter urgently and those who were stuck at the jetty would be taken to the island shortly.
Officials said 3,800 Indian devotees had arrived in the island in 92 boats by Saturday afternoon.
Fr. Amirtha Swamy from Tamil Nadu told the Sunday Times that he had brought a party of around 70 to experience the spirituality and uniqueness of the event that saw pilgrims from both countries coming together.
The annual festival started last evening with the ceremonial hoisting of St. Anthony’s flag by the clergy from both countries. The mass this morning was conducted by Jaffna Bishop Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam along with priests from Rameswaram, India.
