Kachchathivu feast brings pilgrims together

By Ranil Wijayapala after a tour of Kachchathivu

Apart from pitch darkness, the stars in the pre-dawn sky over the Indian ocean and the few shimmering lights seen at a distance, there was no sign of life as the Dvora Fast Attack craft sped across the sea surface in the Kankesanthurai harbour to start our journey towards Kachchathivu island.

Though it was 2.50 in the morning, there was no unbearable cold, as the sea waters had given warmth to the surface air too, giving us no difficulty to confront the lashing wind as the Dvora Fast Attack craft took the media personnel from Kankesanthurai to witness one of the rare gatherings of devotees from Sri Lanka and India in the tiny island of Kachchathivu for a common cause, setting aside their bitter arguments.

The sea was extremely calm and made no disturbance to officers and sailors navigating the Dvora Fast Attack Craft towards Kachchathivu and it was only the roar of the Dvora that disturbed the tranquillity of the sea before dawn as it passed 40 Nautical Miles per hour to complete the journey in one and half hours. It was almost one hour after passing Delft island that we came across this tiny island of Kachchathivu.

We passed more than 85 kilometers to reach the island from Kankesanthurai, a Navy officer on board the Dvora Fast Attack craft said when we were preparing to move from the Dvora into a water jet, a small craft which could reach the shore line, before one kilometer to the coast of the Kachchathivu island.

Pitch darkness reigned there on the ground as we jumped on to the sandy beach of Kachchathivu island just past five in the morning. Despite the darkness many movements were there to and from the island, but it was only in the beach that it was possible for us to move as hoards of men, women and children covered by bedsheets were sleeping on the beach where no permanent buildings were available.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and North Central Naval Area Commander, Rear Admiral Rohan Amarasinghe in conversation with the chief incumbent of Nagadeepa and Chief Sangha Nayaka of Northern province Ven. Navadagala Padumakiththi Tissa Thera.

As the rays of the sun began to fall they all had to wake from their sleeping mats and get ready for the grand event.

As the sun took its turn to light the terrain the Sri Lankan flags fluttered in the breeze to give us the message that we are in a grounds that belongs to Sri Lanka while the brown and yellow coloured flags suggesting that the land is ready for the feast of St. Anthony the patron saint of fishermen.

But in effect we were almost in a land where the number of Sri Lankans were outnumbered by Indian nationals. Despite controversies over the ownership of the island, and the disputes over fishing issues mostly by the Tamil Nadu politicians, the brotherhood of the fishermen stood above all those barriers as they united for an event to seek the blessings of St. Anthony the patron saint of their main profession, fishing.

No boundaries were there to separate them in this tiny island covered only by small shrubs as they prepared for the mass in the morning conducted by the priests from both Sri Lanka and India.

But the fishing communities from both countries could not forget the fact that they have to face the grim reality once they go back to the sea for fishing.

Anthony, a fisherman from Rameshwaran India, faced the grim reality and spoke boldly on the issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters as he woke up to prepare himself for the feast.

We know that Sri Lankan fishermen are a little annoyed with us as we are making use of the Sri Lankan waters for fishing. But as fishermen we have to do that as it is our livelihood. But the festivals of this nature can bring us together to have mutual discussions on the issues confronting us, he added.

He said more than 4,000 fishermen from Rameswaram, Thankatchymadam have arrived there in boats to participate in the St Anthony’s feast.

As we all are fishermen we have no dispute with Sri Lankan fishermen. This is an opportunity to address that dispute, Antony added.

Fishermen from Rameswaram, Danushkodi and Thankatchymadam fear that if they are not allowed to go beyond 10 to 12 kilometers from the Indian shores, the fishermen will have no means of livelihood.

The sunrise

The Navy distributing food packets

But the concern of the Sri Lankan fishermen is that when thousands of Indian fishing boats engage in fishing in the Sri Lankan territorial waters the lucrative fishing grounds will get affect very soon.

They also argue that as Indian fishermen took full advantage of the restrictions imposed on Sri Lankan fishermen to engage in fishing in Northern and Eastern seas, the Indian fishermen should allow Sri Lankan fishermen to engage in fishing peacefully.

All these arguments and counter-arguments became minor factors as they lined up to have some fresh water supplied to the island by the Sri Lanka Navy to prepare themselves for the feast while hundreds of the others dipped in the sea to have a morning bath and refresh themselves for the main event.

It was evident that temporary toilets erected in the island by the Sri Lanka Navy to facilitate the pilgrims was hardly able to cater to a crowd of this nature. But there was no big complaint from the pilgrims as they had come there expecting the least facilities.

The food packets and the drinks distributed by the Sri Lanka Navy came in handy for their breakfast.

Parish Priest of Delft in Kachchathivu Rev Amalraj, was happy to see all Indian and Sri Lankan pilgrimages spending their time freely in the Kachchathivu island as a result of the peace that dawned in Sri Lanka. Kachchathivu came under the Delft Parish, he said.

The pilgrims prayed in peace as the mass was conducted by the priests from both countries whilst others were roaming around the island, taking advantage of the opportunity made available to them.

Sri Lanka Navy Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda also mingled with pilgrims to see about the facilities available for the pilgrims attending the feast.

This time the feast has been arranged in an organised manner. The Navy has arranged everything for the devotees and at the same time Delft Pradeshiya Sabha has also contributed their assistance for this, the Minister added.

He said fishermen from both countries are having problems and feasts of this nature bring them closer.

The Indian fishermen are complaining that the Sri Lanka Navy is shooting at the Indian fishermen when they are engaged in fishing in their waters. That is not correct. Today we can see Sri Lanka Navy helping all of them, he added.

What I am suggesting is that both countries should have joint patrolling to resolve this problem. But fishermen also should work together without creating awkward situations, he added.

As the mass conducted by Rev. Fr. Justin Gnanaprakasam came to an end with the blessings for the pilgrims of the two countries, the masses gathered there in unison started to disperse. Each and every one helped the other, showing their solidarity towards each other as they board onto the small boats docked in the beaches.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusingha who was present at the mass told the media that he was happy that they were able to host the feast successfully making available all the resources through the Sri Lanka Navy to the pilgrims attending the feast.

The Defence Secretary, Defence was very keen on the safety of the Indian fishermen and from India and I thank Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake for giving instructions to the Commander Northern Naval Area Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne to provide required facilities and security for the event, he added.

This year I see very significant improvements in the facilities for the pilgrims compared to the past three years, he added.

Northern Naval Area Commander, Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Commander North Central Naval Area Rear Admiral Rohan Amarasinghe, Jaffna Government Agent Imelda Sukumar also participated in the event.

It was with great enthusiasm that pilgrims from India and Sri Lanka got into tiny boats expressing their gratitude to St. Anthony for bringing these two nations together at least once every year, enabling them to mingle together as true friends setting aside their differences.