Katchatheevu Feast of St. Antony went off peacefully

The two-day festival St Antony went off smoothly and peacefully at Katchatheevu in the Indian Ocean, 18 kms off Dhanushkodi as the governments of both countries came out with their permission.

Against 5000 pilgrims who had registered from Indian side, there were only 2910, including 1018 women, who made it to the festival. From Sri Lankan side there were less participants, less than 1000.

200 boats were registered for the trip, but only 71 mechanized boats and 40 catamarans went from Rameshwaram. The customs and Q branch police checked those who set sail. From Neduntheevu (Delft) and Pungudutivu Lankan pilgrims came by fiber boats. The less turn out from Lanka side was a big disappointment.

Pilgrims who came with vessels and rations cooked their own food. The usual barter trade also took place in a low scale. There was to be a joint meeting between the fishermen of both countries on the side-lines of the church festival, which however did not take place as permission was not given. The leaders of fishermen felt that a good opportunity to thrash out mutual problems, especially those caused by extensive and intensive trawling by the Tamil Nadu fishermen, had been lost.

On 27 February, (Saturday noon) the church flag was hoisted Neduntheevu Chief Priest Father Amal Raj, participated by Ramanathapuram Vicar, Father Machel RFaj and Sivaganga chief Priest Father Joseph Lourdu, Father Anand Raj, Father James Vincent, Lankan Naval commander Veerasekhara and Army General Mahinda Sinha.

On Saturday night there was a mass. Sunday morning there was a high mass, at which prayers were offered for good neighborly relationship and peace between both nations and for rich harvest of fish for fishermen of both countries. St. Antony is the guardian angel of fisherfolks.

With the lowering the flag on Sunday the festivities of St. Antony came to end and the pilgrims were asked to leave to their respective places.

Earlier, Bishop of Jaffna Father Soundaranayagam and chief priest Father Gnanaprakasam extended invitation to Father Michael Raj of Rameswaram and clearances were obtained from the district administration, the Indian High Commission and the Sri Lankan High Commission well in advance.

Father Michael Raj, in charge of the arrangements, said, "St Antony is the deity of fishermen and they see it as a privilege to be able to go on this pilgrimage annually."

It is to be noted the festival is taking place with two nations’ participation after a gap of 30 years. The island was ceded to Sri Lanka by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974. And the ethnic problem that broke out in 1983 made the festival activities impossible.

With the feast of St. Antony now made possible, the fisher folks who attended, returned with the hope their good times are returning and peace in the Palk Strait would be back.

- Asian Tribune -