TeresitaBunch: Added Basic Details Basic Info.

2026-04-04T08:34:40Z

Added Basic Details Basic Info.

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St. Joseph's Parish Shrine
| fullname = St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty
| image = St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty.jpg
| pushpin map = India Kerala
| map caption = Location of St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty in Kerala.
| coordinates = {{coord|10.563231|N|76.062865|E|display=inline,title}}
| founded date = {{Start date and age|1876|04|13}}
| location = [[Chavakkad]], [[Thrissur district]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = Syro-Malabar Catholic
| website = [https://www.pavarattyshrine.com/ www.pavarattyshrine.com]
| archdiocese = Metropolitan Archeparchy of Thrissur
}}
'''St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty''' is a Christian church located in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. Located in a small town named [[Pavaratty]], the church is popularly known as '''Pavaratty Palli'''. It is a parish of Syro-malabar traditions under the auspices of the Syro Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur. The first structure of this church was blessed on 13 April 1876. It is exactly 4.4 km away from '''[[St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayur|Palayur Mar Thoma Major Archiepiscopal Church]].''' The church is also under the Palayur Mar Thoma Major Archiepiscopal Church Forane. Considering the importance of this church as a pilgrim centre, the [[India Post|Indian postal department]] has provided a pictorial cancellation stamp for Pavaratty post office from 13 May 1996. It is recognized as the '''biggest church dedicated to St. Joseph in Asia'''.

==Overview==
St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty is a Christian church located in [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]], India. Located in a small town named [[Pavaratty]], the church is popularly known as Pavaratty Palli. It is a parish of Syro-malabar traditions under the auspices of the Syro Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur.<ref name="Tou"/>

==History==
The Pavaratty area was once under the [[Chittattukara]] Parish. Since the Chittattukara church is little far from Pavaratty, people of Pavaratty requested to extend the commencement of Tirukarma ceremonies a little. But the church officials ignored the requests, so the believers from Pavaratty decided to build a church of their own, which later became St. Joseph's Church.<ref name="Tou">{{cite web |date=9 December 2020 |title=St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Monsoon festival |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/monsoon-festivals/festival.php?id=49 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209052940/https://www.keralatourism.org/monsoon-festivals/festival.php?id=49 |archive-date=9 December 2020 |website=www.keralatourism.org |publisher=Department of tourism, Government of Kerala}}</ref>

The simple church structure was blessed on 13 April 1876, on a [[Maundy Thursday]].<ref name="Feast">{{cite web |title=Pavaratty Perunnal |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/1000festivals//assets/uploads/pdf/1507751070-0.pdf |website=www.keralatourism.org |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209052346/https://www.keralatourism.org/1000festivals//assets/uploads/pdf/1507751070-0.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref> After that, they set out to construct a permanent church building and it was completed in 1880.<ref name="Feast" /> To accommodate more people in the church hall, in 1934, a spacious hall constructed facing the main altar from the southern side, and in 1961 another one was constructed to the Northern side. The church was renovated in 1975 and later in 2004. The altar of the church which was built in the [[Portuguese Architecture|Portuguese style of architecture]], was kept unchanged during these renovations.<ref name="MM"/>

==Geography==
The church is located in [[Pavaratty]] town in [[Chavakkad]] taluk, [[Thrissur district]], Kerala. The church is located 23 km northwest of Thrissur and 4 km south of [[Guruvayur]].<ref name="Tou"/> The nearest railway station is Guruvayur and the nearest airport is [[Kochi International Airport]] (59 km).<ref name="Tou"/>

==Church feast==
The annual grand feast of the shrine falls on the third Sunday after [[Easter]]. It is one of the most significant church festivals of Kerala.<ref name="Feast" /> In 2019, it was the 143rd annual festival.<ref name="fire">{{cite web |title=Pavaratti-Thirunal-fire-work-approved |url=http://keralaonlinenews.com/Nattuvartha/Pavaratti-Thirunal-fire-work-approved-78601.html |website=keralaonlinenews.com |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209055428/http://keralaonlinenews.com/Nattuvartha/Pavaratti-Thirunal-fire-work-approved-78601.html |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>

At the last day, the feast is concluded with a mass procession carrying the holy images along with golden crosses and decorated umbrellas.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=പാവറട്ടി തിരുനാൾ സമാപിച്ചു |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/district-news/-85521/-72092 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Deshabhimani |language=en}}</ref> The images of St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the Apostle Peter were carried in a decorated cenotaph along the procession route.<ref name=":1" /> People singing prayer songs and playing musical instruments accompanies with the procession.<ref name=":1" />

The fireworks connected to the grand annual feast on the third Sunday after Easter is famous.<ref>{{cite web |title=സാമൂഹ്യ-സാംസ്കാരിക ചരിത്രം {{!}} Thrissur District Panchayat |url=http://www.thrissurdp.lsgkerala.gov.in/history |website=www.thrissurdp.lsgkerala.gov.in}}</ref> Following the Kollam [[Puttingal temple fire]] disaster, the fireworks display, which had been held for 140 years, did not receive permission from the government in 2018.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-05-08 |title=പരവൂര്‍ ദുരന്തം മാറി ചിന്തിപ്പിച്ചു; പാവറട്ടി പള്ളിയില്‍ കരിമരുന്ന് ഒഴിവാക്കി ഡിജിറ്റല്‍ വെടിക്കെട്ട് |url=https://www.mediaoneonline.com/kerala/2018/05/08/4285-Digital-fireworks-at-Pavaratty-St-Joseph-church |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.mediaoneonline.com |language=ml}}</ref> Following this, the church authorities prepared a safe digital fireworks display that year.<ref name=":2" /> The 2024 fireworks display was carried out with utmost precautions and regulations as per the instructions of the Kerala High Court.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-04-17 |title=ഗുണ്ടും അമിട്ടും കുഴിമിന്നലും വേണ്ട, ബാരിക്കേഡ് കെട്ടി കാണികളെ മാറ്റി നിര്‍ത്തണം; പാവറട്ടി പെരുന്നാള്‍ വെടിക്കെട്ടിന് അനുമതി |url=https://www.samakalikamalayalam.com/news/kerala/permission-to-pavaratty-perunnal-fireworks |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Samakalika Malayalam |language=ml |agency=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> Permission for fireworks was denied in 2025 as well, following the firework accidents that occurred in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kasaragod districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=പാവറട്ടി സെന്റ് ജോസഫ്‌സ് ദേവാലയത്തിലെ തിരുനാൾ- വെടിക്കെട്ട് പൊതുദർശനത്തിന് അനുമതി നിരസിച്ചു {{!}} I&PRD : Official Website of Information Public Relations Department of Kerala |url=https://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/ml/node/294984 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.prd.kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

In 2020, the festival was cancelled due to corona prevention protocols.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=ഹൃദയത്തിലുണ്ട് ഈ പുണ്യാളൻ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/thrissur/2020/05/01/thrissur-no-pavaratty-saint-jospeh-thirunnal-celebration-this-year.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref> On that day, the church was closed to the public and only important ceremonies related to the festival were held by the authorities.<ref name=":0" />

==Honors==
The Indian Postal Department issues a special pictorial cancellation stamp to post offices connected to popular tourist destinations and pilgrimages in India. The postal department has provided pictorial cancellation at Pavaratty post office from 13 May 1996.<ref name="MM">{{cite web |title=pavaratty st joseph church {{!}} വിശ്വാസികളുടെ നേർച്ചപ്പണം ധൂർത്തടിക്കില്ല; രണ്ട് കോടിയോളം രൂപ നിരാലംബർക്കും അശരണർക്കും നൽകും; പള്ളിപ്പെരുന്നാളിന് ധൂർത്തും ആർഭാടവും ഉണ്ടാകില്ല; പൂരമാതൃകയിൽ കോടികൾ ഒഴുക്കുന്ന മത്സരത്തിനും തെക്കും ഭാഗവും വടക്കും ഭാഗവും ഇത്തവണ ഇല്ല; പാവറട്ടി സെന്റ് ജോസഫ് ദേവാലയം മാതൃകയാവുന്നത് ഇങ്ങനെ - MarunadanMalayalee.com |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/news/special-report/pavaratty-st-joseph-church-105915 |website=www.marunadanmalayalee.com |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209053557/https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/news/special-report/pavaratty-st-joseph-church-105915 |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Permanent Pictorial Cancellations of Kerala |url=http://www.indianphilately.net/ppcker.html |website=www.indianphilately.net |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209065309/http://www.indianphilately.net/ppcker.html |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref> Pavaratti Church is the fourth Christian church in Kerala to receive this honor ([[Malayattoor Saint Thomas Church|Malayattoor Church]], [[St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam|Bharananganam Church]] and [[St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayur|Palayur Church]] are the other three churches).<ref name="MM"/>

==Institutions under the church==
Source:<ref name="his">{{cite web |title=പാവറട്ടി തീർത്ഥകേന്ദ്രം |url=https://www.pavarattyshrine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/pavaratty-SHRINE.pdf |website=www.pavarattyshrine.com |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209060945/https://www.pavarattyshrine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/pavaratty-SHRINE.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>

===Schools===
* St. Lois LP School, Venmenad (Started in 1903)
* St. Joseph's LP School, Pavaratty (started in 1908)
* St. Antony's UP School, Poovathur (Started in 1925)
* St. Mary's LP School, Puthumanassery (Started in 1925)
* Sanjoe's School of Nursing, Pavaratty (Started in 1994)

===Hospitals===
* Sanjoe's Parish Hospital, Pavaratty (Started in 1949)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty}}
[[Category:Churches in Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic church buildings]]

St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty - Revision history

TeresitaBunch: Added Basic Details Basic Info.