Christmas celebrated in Kottayam

Christmas was observed in the Kottayam district of  Kerala with religious fervour and joyful celebrations.
Special masses were held in every church amid huge turnouts of devotees thronging the surroundings in many places including the C.S.I. Holy Trinity Cathedral, Christ the King Cathedral, Lourde Forane Church, Mar Elia Cathedral, St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally; and St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcad.
People representing all sections of society actively participated in celebrating the occasion.
In a statement, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Metropolitan and Catholicos of the East Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II urged the public to refrain from celebrating the occasion in a lavish manner.
He also stressed on the importance of co-existing with one another in harmony.
Delivering his address at the Christmas eve celebrations at the St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Kangazha (Changanassery taluk) on Friday night, Mar Thoma Syrian Church Senior Metropolitan Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom pointed out that the Christmas is a celebration of peace and hard work.
The Almighty resides in the minds of those who selflessly support the needy and deprived, he said.
Dr. Thomas Mar Themotheos, Metropolitan of Kottayam diocese, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, in his Christmas message, called for peace and harmony all over the world.
He also warned against the dangers of consuming alcohol, which is wrongly being perceived as a norm during such celebrations.

KOTTAYAM

Area: 2203 sq Km

Population: 18, 20,000

Altitude: Sea level

Access:

Air: Kochi International Airport (75 km)

Rail: Kottayam railway station

 Kottayam, widely known as the land of Letters, Latex and Lakes. Kottayam is a special place within the culture of Kerala having its picture perfect backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields and highlands, sprawling rubber plantations. Kottayam is locked between the lofty western gats on the east and magnificent Vembanad Lake on the West.

Kottayam  town is an important trading  centre of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber.  It is the home of Rubber Board. The Kottayam town has been honored with the title, “ Akshara Nagari” which mean the city of letters. This is a tribute to the city’s pioneering efforts in print media and literature in Kerala.

While saying more about Kottayam,

•     English education in south India actually  started at the  old seminary at kottayam in 1813.
•     The first printing press in Kerala(CMS press) was established here in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily.
•     The first college in the state ( CMS College ) was also started here in Kottayam at 1840.
•     Kottayam town is the first town in India to have Achieved 100% literacy (a feat accomplished in 1989).
•     The first printed Malayalam – English dictionaries in 1846 and English – Malayalam dictionary in 1847 were published from kottayam.
•     The first and only cooperative societies of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS), for publishing books and periodical was set up here in 1945.

Kottayam stands far ahead of all other districts in the field of Mass communication, printing and book publication and Education. The most famous publishers like Malayala Manorama, D C Books, and Current Books is established in Kottayam and believe it or not 70 % of the book publications takes place in the small city of Kottayam. Kottayam is an island of religious harmony in the state.

1000year old mosque Thazhathangady Juma Masjid one of the oldest mosque in the country, cheriya palli (1579) built and consecrated by Portuguese, valiya palli(1550) , and the Bharananganam church which is a global pilgrim destination after its daughter St Alphonsa became saint in 2008.

Kottayam has had tremendous impact on the growth and development of Kerala and it hold a very special place in the cultural landscape of the state.

Must see places in Kottayam:

• Kumarakom
• Vagamon
• Bharananganam Church
• Cheriya Palli ( small church)
• Valiya palli  ( Big Church)
• Thazhathangadi Juma Masjid
• Old Seminary (1815)
• The Poonjar Palace
• The Ilaveezhapoonchira
• Mannanam Monastry
• Vaikkom Temple
• Ettumannur Temple
• Thirunnakkara Sri Mahadeva Temple
• Erumeli