St.Joseph's Parish Shrine Pavaratty, Thrissur, Kerala, India

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Rev.Fr.Vicar
St.Joseph's Parish Shrine
P.O.Pavaratty, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Pin 680507
Ph: 91 487 2642251,
Ph: 91 487 2640251

GRAND FEST

The Annual Grand Feast of the Shrine falls on the third Sunday after Easter. The feast of St.Joseph, the Universal Patron is observed here. It is one of the most significant church festivals of Kerala.

The Novena starts with the feast at St.Antony's Chapel, just in front of the shrine. After the holy mass at the chapel, the flag having the holy picture of the St. Joseph is hoisted on the metal pillar (this is known as kodimaram) and it marks the beginning of the feast.

Special ceremonies are observed on all Nine days. On the eve, the Saturday, special Holy Mass (known as Naivedya Puja) is said and together with it the "Holy food" of the feast is blessed.

In the evening High Holy Mass is sung and the holyStatue is presented for public veneration (Kooduthurakkal) Following it, the first set of fireworks display gives solace and joy to the thousands of devotees gathered. Later at midnight, the grand competitive display of fire works (from the two sections of the parish) takes place and it lasts for three hours. From 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock Holy Masses are offered and at 10 am we have the Grand High Mass followed by the Novena and the Procession.

One of the chief features of the Grand Feast is the Bangle procession (Vala Ezhunnallippu). The Holy statue of St. Joseph of Pavaratty church has having the legendary blossoming Lily in hand; the holy father is presented as a bridegroom with bracelets (bangles) on his arms

THE FLAG HOSTING

The flag masts of well – known institutions and shrines have some significance. Most of them have historical, mythological, legendary or formal significance. At first the shrine had only temporary flag-posts erected at the time of the festival, just in front of the church. Permanent flag mast was grown at a point near the road; and later, this gave way to the present metallic mast. Since its institution believers take it as a symbol of their faith.

KOODUTHURAKKAL	PROCESSION

The encavement, where the holy statue of St. Joseph instituted in the Main Altar, is opened (Kooduthurakkal) for ceremonial public veneration on the eve of the Grand Feast. After the Holy High Mass in the late afternoon, this ritual is performed and it is marked with the first set of fireworks display.	After the High Mass and Sermon the Grand Procession is held. Thousands of devotees who have gathered at the Shrine take part in the Procession and gain Blessings of the Father. Grandeur is attributed to the Procession by the band-music, gilted colourful velvet umbrellas, fireworks etc. The Procession proceeds under the canopied "Pallinada" to reach St.Antony's Chapel. On return the Procession goes round the "Kodimaram" and reaches the Shrine.

NIVEDYA POOJA

Vegitables Cutting for Naivedya Puja Every celebration is fulfilled with a banquet. So also the feasts at churches. Formerly all the faithful were sharing freely in a banquet of love; later a minimal amount got fixed for the ticket The 'OOTTUPURA' (parish hall) for the same. It is believed that St. Joseph himself is giving food to the devotees by his hands. More than one lakh devotees participate in this divine function. Pilgrims wait in queue even for a long time at busy hours to part-take in the holy feast. It is believed that by participating in this function illnesses will be cured and the devotees get special blessings of St.Joseph. This function has been part and parcel of the Feast since the beginning.

FIRE WORKS

The fire works display of Pavaratty Shrine is very famous and people from various parts throng for the same. It stands second only to "Pooram fireworks of Thrissur. On the eve of the Grand Feast the Shrine conducts one fireworks display, after the Koo Kathina Displyed for Fire works duthurakkal. It is not conducted as a large scale operation for the second one attracts thousands, as being done on large scale. The grand fireworks display starts exactly at midnight and lasts for three hours. The parish gets divided into two and competition takes place between these sections viz, the North and the South in the display. Although thousands are spent for the display, people take as an offering, for the legends emphasise its significance.

VAVA

People of Pavaratty are very keen in seeking the mediation of St. Joseph for holy and successful unions of matrimony. Hence bangles (modelled after the bracelets on the statue) are offered to the church, or bangles are taken in procession to all the houses in the parish; it is further believed that such homes will be specially blessed by St.Joseph.

The feast on march 19 Maranathirunal

We commemorate the last day of St.Joseph, in the lent on March 19th. The celebrations began with an individual endeavour by Olakkengil John who conducted candle procession from Venmenad to the shrine. Now the day is celebrated in a large scale. It is a day of togetherness and fraternity with the people of neighbourhood. In the evening about a dozen well decorated chariots, (Theru) bearing ornamented statue of St.Joseph are brought in procession from different sides of the parish giving joy to all who gather.

CHARIOT

Mini-lorries are usually used for forming chariots. The statue of the saint will be placed at the center and around it a rich brilliant illumination of varying colours add sublimated halo to the statue. Such chariots are brought with jubilations, crackers and bands to the shrine on March 19th.

3rd SUNDAY

Later, in 1947, Holy Father, Pius IX shifted the feast of the Universal Patron onto the Second Wednesday of Easter. However our Shrine goes on celebrating it according to the older tradition, i.e., on the 3rd Sunday of Easter.