Katchatheevu st Antony Church Festival
The St. Antony Church Festival is an annual religious event held on the uninhabited island of Katchatheevu in Sri Lanka, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. The island, located in the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India, hosts the festival at the only structure on the island—the St. Antony’s Shrine, built in 1905 by a Tamil fisherman.
The festival fosters rich cultural and religious traditions, especially among fishing communities. Pilgrims from both Sri Lanka and India journey by boats—both mechanised and traditional—to participate. The shrine serves as a spiritual focal point where the local biodiversity and the stark, wild coastal environment underscore the reflective atmosphere of the event.
During the festival, visitors engage in devotional Masses, processions such as the Way of the Cross, flag-hoisting ceremonies, and communal gatherings around the shrine. Indian and Sri Lankan clergy jointly conduct services, and temporary facilities such as shelters, food stalls, water supply arrangements, and medical support are organized to accommodate the large number of pilgrims.
The festival runs for two to three days each year, typically in mid-March (sometimes late February), when access regulations are relaxed to allow easy passage by sea. Travellers reach the island by boat from coastal points like Rameswaram, Thangatchimadam, or Mandapam. Due to its exposed location, cooler dry-season months offer the safest and most comfortable conditions for attendance.
