Sailing to Katchatheevu: A Cultural Odyssey

The annual Katchatheevu festival sees nearly 4,000 Indian pilgrims traveling to the islet for a shared cultural event with Sri Lanka. The pilgrimage includes various religious ceremonies and is closely monitored by Indian authorities to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

Nearly 4,000 Indian pilgrims embarked on a journey to the uninhabited Katchatheevu islet on Friday, marking the beginning of an annual two-day festival celebrating cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. The event is set to commence at 4 PM at St Antony's Church, officials have reported.

The pilgrimage's first batch was launched from the Rameswaram fishing harbour by Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon promptly at 6 AM. A total of 3,996 registered attendees, including 3,033 men, 726 women, and 150 children, are crossing the Palk Strait in a fleet consisting of 118 boats.

Security has been tightened with a three-tier verification by the Indian Coast Guard. Pilgrims are required to show identification, and prohibited items are banned. The festival will peak on Saturday morning with a high mass and conclude soon after, as pilgrims return to India.

(With inputs from agencies.)