The Katchatheevu island would open up briefly for Indian pilgrims and fishermen for the annual St. Antony’s Church festival to be held for two days on February 28 and March 1, but the restrictions on Indian journalists covering the event would continue this year too.
Rev Fr. Thomas Soundarajan, Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, has sent invitations to Sivaganga Diocese Bishop Most Rev J. Susai Manickam and Verkodu (Rameswaram) Parish Priest Rev Fr L. Sagayaraj to take part with pilgrims in the annual festival, coinciding with second Sunday of the Lent days.
Giving details of the pilgrimage to reporters here on Friday, Rev Sagayaraj said the two-day festival would commence with “way of the cross” procession on February 28 evening followed by a holy mass and adoration. The festival would draw to a close after the feast mass and adoration to be conducted by the Jaffna Parish Priest, the host on the morning of March 1. He said the restrictions imposed by the Lankan authorities last year on Indian journalists visiting the island were likely to continue this year also. The Navy had restricted the entry of journalists to only those who obtained “temporary visa” from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai.
The priest who was coordinating the pilgrimage said interested pilgrims should apply for the pilgrimage before February 20 after obtaining the applications from the Verkodu Church. Unlike last year, they should directly register themselves with boat owners after paying Rs 1,000 per person, he said.
Last year, 3,160 pilgrims, including 528 women and 116 children, attended the pilgrimage and this year “we expect about 4,000 pilgrims,” he said. He met Collector K. Nanthakumar on Friday and requested him to make necessary arrangements for the pilgrimage.
The Collector is likely to convene a meeting of officials and representatives from various security agencies, including the district police, Q branch, Indian Coast Guard, Customs and Navy during the first week of February and work out the modalities for the annual pilgrimage, he added.
