St. Andrew's Basilica opens for Sabari pilgrims

ALAPPUZHA: The St. Andrew’s Basilica, a 16th-century Catholic church built by the Portuguese missionaries in the coastal town of Arthunkal near here, is all set to host Sabari pilgrims returning after worshipping Lord Ayyappa. The church still stands tall as an epitome of religious harmony during the November-January Mandala-Makaravilakku season. The pilgrims take out their string of beads worn as part of the ritual here, paying respect to the idol of St Sebastian. K.G. Nelson, one of four trustees of the church, says there was a steady rise in pilgrims for the last few seasons.

It sets up temporary shelters for them to take bath and offer prayers. “It’s is our duty to spread the message that every religion stands love,” he said. “The attitude of people on religion may have changed over the years, but meaningful rituals sending a great message of peace should not vanish.” Most of the pilgrims were from Malabar. The legend associated with the basilica is that one of the early priests of the church was a friend of Lord Ayyappa, which the visitors commemorate.

He was loved greatly by the local people, who believed he had some talismanic powers to heal. He was called Arthunkal Veluthachan (fair-skinned father), and he installed a statue of St Sebastian there. Parish records show the Portuguese arrived here following the landing of Vasco da Gama at Kappadu in 1498. After the death of the first priest, Fr Jacomo Fenicio became the vicar in 1584, to whom the legend linking Sabarimala and Arthunkal is attributed.

"There are records to prove that Fr Fenicio the friend of Ayyappa 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,” he said.