The annual feast of St Anthony’s Church at Katchatheevu concluded this week, drawing an unprecedented 13,000 devotees to the small island in the Palk Strait.
The historic religious gathering, held each year on Katchatheevu island, traditionally attracts pilgrims from both sides of the Palk Strait. This year’s attendance exceeded expectations, with approximately 4,000 devotees arriving from India and nearly 9,000 travelling from across the island.
The special feast liturgy was presided over by the Jaffna District Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Jebaratnam, as thousands of the faithful participated in prayer and worship.
According to organisers, 3,996 devotees from Tamil Nadu travelled to the island aboard 92 mechanised bottom trawlers and 26 Naatu country boats. Indian pilgrims attend under a special pass system that recognises the centuries-old religious tradition.
Across the island, attendance surged beyond initial estimates of 5,000. More than 9,000 devotees made the journey, marking one of the largest local turnouts in decades. Pilgrims travelled from Negombo, Mannar, Kalpitiya and districts across the North. Many undertook long sea journeys on fishing boats from distant coastal communities.
Hundreds of devotees waited for hours at Kurikkaatuvan jetty to board limited commercial ferries. As demand outstripped capacity, the Sri Lankan Navy intervened to transport additional pilgrims to the island. Despite these efforts, some were forced to return home due to ferry shortages.
Typically, around 4,000 pilgrims from each side of the Palk Strait attend the feast annually. This year’s turnout reflects the enduring religious and cultural significance of the shrine, particularly for fishing communities on both sides of the maritime boundary.
