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Prayers and friendships renewed as pilgrims from here and across the Straits come to Kachchativu
View(s):S. Rubatheesan reporting from Kachchativu
The island is an uninhabited one located just a few nautical miles away from the International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL) of Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
Facing the Indian Ocean from the coast is the statue of St Anthony’s holding a cross. Behind the statue is the newly built shrine that acts as a ‘lighthouse’ for fisherfolk from both India and Sri Lanka. In addition, it gives an inkling to Indian fishermen as to how close they are to the IMBL.
A notice board, ‘Welcome to Sri Lanka’ along with dedicated checking lines for Indian and local devotees, is the first sight one sees when one lands on the island. After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 5000 devotees from here and across the Palk Straits gathered at Kachchativu yesterday to mark the feast of St Anthony.
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- Two queues: One for Indian pilgrims and the other for local pilgrims
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- Buying trinkets to take home
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- A time to rest
Last year, a group of only 80 individuals– a majority of them clergy from India and a limited number of locals participated in the feast for St Anthony, considered the guardian of fishermen in mid sea.
From the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu – Rameswaram, Thangachchimadam, Karaikkaal and Nagapattinam, 2198 devotees reached the island on Friday in 72 trawlers.
In addition, about 2900 pilgrims from Jaffna, Mannar, Thalaimannar, Chilaw and Negombo travelled in the passenger ferry services or in their own boats to take part in the special feast held annually with the participation of fisherfolk from the two countries.
Even though local authorities had expected more devotees from Sri Lanka, the numbers were less due to the economic crisis and costly transport fares.
From the Kurikkaatuwan jetty of Jaffna- the main civilian jetty that connects ferry services to northern islands– it cost Rs 2000 for the three-hour long journey to the island in a privately- run ferry service. W. A. Jude Fernando a fisherman from Chilaw has never missed the annual feast in the past except for the past three years due to pandemic restrictions. This year he along with his family members and friends — a group of about 52 travelled from his village.
“Many who used to come with us in the past did not join us because of high transport fares. We had to pool around Rs 175,000 to pay for a bus and the boat journey to reach the island from Chilaw. Not many can afford this considering the current situation,” Mr. Fernando told the Sunday Times.
T. Ananda Jeyasekaran, from Thangachchimadam, Rameswaram, came with his family of five and a group of extended relatives in their own trawlers as they always did. “ We couldn’t make it the past two years due to COVID-19 but this time we came with many prayers and vows that are due to our Guardian for a longtime,”
The feast is also an occasion for fisherfolk from both countries to renew their friendships and cultural bonds.
Mr Jeyasekaran said how a friend of his, a Hindu, but a follower of St Anthony’s came with him to perform prayers after he was cured of his illness. He had made a vow to visit the shrine once he was cured completely.
Mr. Jeyasekaran said he had brought sweets and some electronic items for his friends in Sri Lanka. He said he got bundles of Rani soaps, sweets and palmyra products from a friend in Jaffna. “ We have been doing this for years and will continue to do so in the future as we all pray in the name of St Anthony who blesses us all”
Along a small path leading to the shrine are little shops filled with fancy goods, sweets, and cool drinks.
The Navy which has a permanent presence on the island– the SLNS Wasabha–provided necessary infrastructure facilities, including sanitary and drinking water, temporary tents, jetties as well as electricity. The main mass on Saturday was conducted by the Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Colombo Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam. Vicar General of Jaffna Bishop House Rev. Pathinathan Josephdas Jebaratnam also took part in the mass. As the mass concluded by 9.30 am, devotees from both countries headed towards separate jetties to get into their trawlers and boats and head home.
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