“Oh, Kaprassery, gem of the
region,
We will stand with pride and dignity,
We will watch your fragile beauty,
With much love and care . . . ”
We will stand with pride and dignity,
We will watch your fragile beauty,
With much love and care . . . ”
It’s fiesta days in Kaprassery once more.… It
brings to us in a hundred and one memories; some happy and some sad. It reminds
me of the well decorated and illuminated face of our parish church, old and
familiar faces of parishioners and people in the distant beyond, some lost and
half forgotten, but most of all those that I love and long to be with.
Kaprassery is my home village, nestled in between
the two major towns of the Indian state Kerala, i.e. Aluva and Angamaly. Parish
was established in the year 1976. It is named Little Flower Church after the Saint Therese of Lisieux (LittleFlower)… How
does a Kaprasserian celebrate a Parish fiesta?
Kaprassery celebrates its parish fiesta every first
weekend of February in honour of her patroness Saint Therese of Lisieux (Little
Flower) and of St. Sebastian. This most awaited weekend is preceded by nine
days evening novena and holy mass. These
days, you will find the pious and devoted Kaprasserians offering their prayers,
thanks giving for the blessings granted upon their family and nation by the
loving God with the intercession of our Lady.
The celebration is doubly blessed and become more
significant in the parish church which has been the center of the life of a Kaprasserian.
By the end of ninth day, folks decorate their frontage of house and village
roads with tender coconut leaves and with the plantain trunk. Soon the much
awaited weekend arrives and celebration begins by hosting papal flag in front
of the church and holy mass follows. Later in the evening parishioners comes up
with a bunch of beautiful cultural programs and the real celebration begins as
each and every devotee and guest is welcomed in the heart and homes of my village
folks in the unique charm and Kaprassery hospitality. Saturday procession, after
celebrating the holy mass, is something everyone participates with lot of
devotion and pride…
The sharing of laughters, all the eating and the
drinking! What a weekend! But by Sunday evening, the host smiles with pride and
joy for another merry making that had soon come to pass. Once again memories
are made in the hearts of each Kaprasserians.
As the village
of Kaprassery celebrates its annual parish church fiesta this year the
activities are set through the leadership of our parish priest and parish fest committee…
Happy Fiesta to all!
