Feast of Saint Raphael, Ollur
Encyclopedia
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. The Ollur forane church, founded in 1718 and dedicated to St Anthony, also houses a famous Shrine of Raphael the Archangel. This is one of the oldest churches built in 18th-century Kerala
. The festival, held on October 23 and 24 of each year, is one of the most important Christian festivals in Kerala
. The festival starts with the hoisting of the ceremonial flag on October 15 to mark the beginning of the celebrations in the church compound. It is one of half a dozen Christian festivals listed by Kerala Tourism as among the attractions of the state.
The main attraction of the festival is the Vala (Bangle) procession which is coming from the six zones of Ollur
parish on October 23. 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 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, Saint Raphael
, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel
, and the Guardian Angel, in the Roopakkoodu (an intricately decorated support or surround). Formerly accompanied by thullal (popularly known as "devil dancing"), this aspect of the festival has in more recent years been suppressed by ecclesiastical order.
, Ollur
, was built by Chiramel Chakoru Palu, a resident of Ollur
, who got the permission from Raja of Cochin. The foundation stone of the church was laid by Rev. Marollical Poulose. The church was built in the gothic architecture style in the period 1883-1893. The Ollur Forane church is one the best models of Christian architecture in India. The Ollur church is one of the wealthiest in the whole of Kerala.
to October 24. 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 the Tobias, a young man. The Church calls on him as the angel of love, patron of medical doctors and of travelers.[8]
Ollur
Ollur is a major suburban area and an old commercial town in the Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is situated about 5 km away from Swaraj Round on National Highway 47 commonly referred to as NH47 towards Ernakulam. From ancient time onwards Ollur was a major business centre...
, near Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
(India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), since 1839. It draws thousands of pilgrims. The Ollur forane church, founded in 1718 and dedicated to St Anthony, also houses a famous Shrine of Raphael the Archangel. This is one of the oldest churches built in 18th-century Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The festival, held on October 23 and 24 of each year, is one of the most important Christian festivals in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The festival starts with the hoisting of the ceremonial flag on October 15 to mark the beginning of the celebrations in the church compound. It is one of half a dozen Christian festivals listed by Kerala Tourism as among the attractions of the state.
The main attraction of the festival is the Vala (Bangle) procession which is coming from the six zones of Ollur
Ollur
Ollur is a major suburban area and an old commercial town in the Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is situated about 5 km away from Swaraj Round on National Highway 47 commonly referred to as NH47 towards Ernakulam. From ancient time onwards Ollur was a major business centre...
parish on October 23. These Valas will conclude at the foot of the rock-cross of the church. The processions are very attractive by glittering chariot, muthukkuda
Muthukkuda
Muthukkuda or "royal umbrellas" are highly decorative silk parasols used in South India on festive and formal occasions, the privilege of bearing which was formerly controlled by royal authority. Their use is particularly marked in religious festivities in Kerala.-External links:*...
s (multi coloured silk umbrellas), many types of vadyams
Indian musical instruments
Indian musical instruments can be broadly classified into four categories, mainly classical, western and folk. See Carnatic music and Hindustani music. The instruments are further sub-classified into the type based on the science behind the same....
and melam
Melam
Melam is the common name for percussion instruments that are unique to Tamilnadu, Kerala and parts of South India. The most traditional of all melams is the Pandi Melam, which is generally performed outside the temple. Another melam called the Panchari Melam, which is similar to Pandi Melam, but...
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, Saint Raphael
Raphael (archangel)
Raphael is an archangel of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who in the Judeo-Christian tradition performs all manners of healing....
, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel
Gabriel
In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an Archangel who typically serves as a messenger to humans from God.He first appears in the Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel's visions. In the Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the births of both John the Baptist and of Jesus...
, and the Guardian Angel, in the Roopakkoodu (an intricately decorated support or surround). Formerly accompanied by thullal (popularly known as "devil dancing"), this aspect of the festival has in more recent years been suppressed by ecclesiastical order.
History
The St. Anthony's Forane ChurchSt. Anthony's Forane Church
The St. Anthony's Forane Church is located at Ollur in Kerala, India. The church belongs to Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. According to rough figures there are around 4,000 Christian families in the parish...
, Ollur
Ollur
Ollur is a major suburban area and an old commercial town in the Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is situated about 5 km away from Swaraj Round on National Highway 47 commonly referred to as NH47 towards Ernakulam. From ancient time onwards Ollur was a major business centre...
, was built by Chiramel Chakoru Palu, a resident of Ollur
Ollur
Ollur is a major suburban area and an old commercial town in the Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is situated about 5 km away from Swaraj Round on National Highway 47 commonly referred to as NH47 towards Ernakulam. From ancient time onwards Ollur was a major business centre...
, who got the permission from Raja of Cochin. The foundation stone of the church was laid by Rev. Marollical Poulose. The church was built in the gothic architecture style in the period 1883-1893. The Ollur Forane church is one the best models of Christian architecture in India. The Ollur church is one of the wealthiest in the whole of Kerala.
About Saint Raphael
Raphael is the name of an archangel of Christianity who is third in the rank of angels and performs all manner of healing. The Roman Catholic Church assigns the feast of Saint RaphaelRaphael (archangel)
Raphael is an archangel of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who in the Judeo-Christian tradition performs all manners of healing....
to October 24. 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 the Tobias, a young man. The Church calls on him as the angel of love, patron of medical doctors and of travelers.[8]