Arthunkal church readies to host Sabari pilgrims

Alappuzha: A 16th-century Catholic church built by the Portuguese missionaries here breaks all communal boundaries to keep its annual ritual of receiving Sabarimala pilgrims intact. St Andrew’s Church at Arthunkal is once again ready to host the pilgrims returning from the hill shrine as the season begins.

Though there's a massive fall in seasonal visitors, the practice continues, though the new generation is largely unaware of this custom.

During November-January Mandala and Makaravilakku season, the pilgrims take out their string of beads worn as part of the vratha and pay respects to the statue of St Sebastian at the church.

The church sets up temporary shelters for them to take a bath and arrange timings for offering prayers. “It’s the duty of all of us to spread the message that every religion stands for one ideology that is love,” says Fr Stephen Punnackal, its vicar.

“The young generation has to be given an opportunity to get to know the legend associated with Lord Ayyappa and the church. Such gestures should not disappear.”     

Legend has it that one of its priests was a friend of Lord Ayyappa, and the visit commemorates that bond.

The priest was loved greatly by the local people, and they believed that he had some holy powers to heal pain.

He was called Arthunkal Veluthachan (fair-skinned father), and he installed a statue of St. Sebastian there. The parish records say, after the death of the first priest, Fr Jacomo Fenicio became the vicar in 1584, and the legend is attributed to him.

“So devotees started visiting Arthunkal also after paying homage to his friend Ayyappa,” the priest says.

“There are historical records to prove that Fr Fenicio had a profound interest in Hindu culture, rituals and martial arts like Kalaripayattu. He had also penned a book on those subjects in Latin”.

Though much of the rituals had been given up over the centuries, the spiritual bond between Sabarimala and Arthunkal is still preserved.