Feast of Saint Raphael, Ollur

2021-07-01T10:30:03Z

173.238.231.208: /* About Saint Raphael */ Unneeded 'the'.

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox recurring event
|name = Feast of Saint Raphael
|logo =
|image =Ollur_Junction.JPG
|caption = Pandal in [[Ollur]] Junction made for the annual feast of Saint Raphael
|location = [[Ollur]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kerala]]
|years_active =
|founded = 1718
|dates = 23, 24 October
|genre = Church festivals
|attendance = 1,00,000 above
|patron = Saint Anthony's
|website = [http://www.smcim.org/ollur/index.htm]
}}

The '''Feast of Saint Raphael''' or '''Malakhayude Perunnal''' is an annual festival held in [[Ollur]], near [[Thrissur]], [[Kerala]] ([[India]]), since 1839. It draws thousands of pilgrims.<ref>A. Sreedhara Menon, ''Social and Cultural History of Kerala'' (1979), p. 232.</ref> The Ollur [[forane]] church, founded in 1718 and dedicated to St Anthony, also houses a famous Shrine of [[Raphael the Archangel]].<ref>José Pereira, ''Baroque India: The Neo-Roman Religious Architecture of [[South Asia]]'' (2000), pp. 139-140.</ref> This is one of the oldest churches built in 18th-century [[Kerala]]. The festival, held on 23 and 24 October of each year, is one of the most important Christian festivals in [[Kerala]]. The festival starts with the hoisting of the ceremonial flag on 15 October to mark the beginning of the celebrations in the church compound.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20041123054835/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/11/stories/2004101105220300.htm Ollur Church Fete Begins on 23 October]" ''[[The Hindu]]'', 10 October 2004.</ref> It is one of half a dozen Christian festivals listed by Kerala Tourism as among the attractions of the state.<ref>[http://www.keralatourism.org/festivalcalendar/category.php?cat=2012 Kerala Tourism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307220724/http://www.keralatourism.org/festivalcalendar/category.php?cat=2012 |date=7 March 2010 }}, accessed 29 Oct. 2009</ref>

The main attraction of the festival is the Vala (Bangle) procession which is coming from the six zones of [[Ollur]] parish on 23 October. These Valas will conclude at the foot of the rock-cross of the church. The processions are very attractive by glittering chariot, ''[[muthukkuda]]s'' (multi coloured silk umbrellas), many types of ''[[Indian musical instruments|vadyams]]'' and ''[[melam]]s'' and followed by firework displays in the church grounds.

The main part of the festival is the main procession carrying the statues of the four angels, [[Raphael (archangel)|Saint Raphael]], [[Saint Michael]], [[Gabriel|Saint Gabriel]], and the Guardian Angel, in the ''Roopakkoodu'' (an intricately decorated support or surround). Formerly accompanied by ''[[Kolam Thullal|thullal]]'' (popularly known as "devil dancing"), this aspect of the festival has in more recent years been suppressed by ecclesiastical order.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smcim.org/ollur/festivals.htm |title=Festival webpage |access-date=29 October 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080924015828/http://www.smcim.org/ollur/festivals.htm |archive-date=24 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==

The [[St. Anthony's Forane Church]], [[Ollur]], was built by the resident Christian families of Ollur under the leadership of Chiramel Chakoru Palu, a resident of [[Ollur]], who got the permission from the Raja of Cochin. The foundation stone of the church was laid by Rev. Marottical Poulose.<ref>http://chiramels.com/aboutus.html</ref> The church was built in typical Kerala Vaastushilpa architectural style in the period 1883-1893. The Ollur Forane church is one of the best models of Christian architecture in India. The Ollur church is one of the wealthiest in the whole of Kerala. For some pictures of the Ollur Forane church see <ref>http://www.indianchristianity.com</ref><ref>http://nazraney.com/journal12.htm</ref>

==About Saint Raphael==
Raphael is the name of an archangel of Christianity who is one of three angels listed by name in the Bible. The Roman Catholic Church assigns the feast of [[Raphael (archangel)|Saint Raphael]] to 24 October. He stands in the choir of archangels and is one of the seven angels who stand before the Throne of God. His name is known in the Bible where he, in the Book of Tobit, is the traveling companion of Tobias, a young man. The Church calls on him as the angel of love, patron of medical doctors and of travelers.<ref>http://www.nazraney.com</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://archive.today/20080924015836/http://www.smcim.org/ollur/index.htm Parish website]
* [http://www.ollurchurch.com Parish website]
* [http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/New%20Article.htm Archangel Raphael and Ollur Church]

{{Tourist attractions in Thrissur}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}

[[Category:Culture of Thrissur]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Religion in Thrissur]]
[[Category:October events]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Feast of Saint Raphael, Ollur