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| The Catholic Church observes the feast of St George on 23rd April
. The feast of St George in Edappally Church starts on that day and lasts till May 15th.The annual feast at the St. George's Forane Church is celebrated on 3rd and 4th of May and the Octave on 10th and 11th. The Flag is hoisted on 25th of April. There are 40 hours' Adoration and 9days of Novena in preparation to the Feast. |
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| Before the flag is hoisted, the President and members of the Darsana Samooham go to the Vicar with 101 sweets and savories and offer them to him. He is then invited to hoist the flag. This ceremony is a reminder of an ancient custom that was in vogue for centuries but now discontinued.For many years, the members of the parish used to go to the Raja of Edappally, between whom and |
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| the church there was a strong bond of friendship, to seek his permission for hoisting the flag. The Raja will accord it and will arrange for the transportation of the flagpost gifted by him by his palace elephant. |
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On May 1st, the statue of St.George, bedecked with golden ornaments given as offering by the devotees, is taken out in a solemn procession. The statue is placed in a roopakoodu. The roopakoodu is carved from wood with elegant designs. It is then placed in a chariot made out of teak and etched with biblical scenes. This chariot is manually driven. Band sets play loudly and fireworks add a touch of gaiety to the occasion. |
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Devotees shower betel leaves ad puffed rice on the roopakoode. The procession takes more than an hour to wind its way back to the church. The colourful procession of the feast days is very remarkable and is attended by tens of thousands. The statue of the Saint is welcomed in front of the houses by showering betel leaves, crushed rice and popped rice and by colourful fireworks. |
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