varapuzha

A cloudy evening @Kochi. Taken at 6.40 p.m, from the balcony of my flat at SRM road. It was quite dark becuase of rain clouds, as if a tornado is going to strike…taken using my Nokia e72 phone camera.

abrachan — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:45:37 +0000

Varapuzha Perunnal (festival @ Varapuzha Church)

abrachan — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:37:52 +0000

Vallarpadam Church

abrachan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:57:05 +0000

The Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam, Vallarpadam is a famous centre of pilgrimage. People from all parts of Kerala and outside, irrespective of caste or creed go to the church to seek the blessings of Mary, the mother of Jesus, popularly known as “Vallarpadathamma”. This is an ancient Christian Church which accepted Latin rite after the arrival of Portuguese. In 1524, Portuguese merchants headed by Vasco da Gama enthroned this miraculous picture of Our lady of Ransom at the shrine. The church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit, which was the first of its kind in Asia. The beautiful church was however destroyed by a heavy flood in 1676. The church was re-established in 1676 and the famous picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected by Portuguese who brought it from their native land. The picture is believed to have miraculous powers. The Portuguese built the first church on the site of the present church in 1524. It was destroyed in a flood in the late 17th century and a new church was built on the same spot in 1676. It was declared a special church by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and in 1951 the Union Government declared it a major pilgrim centre.

Location
Vallarpadam is situated next to Bolghatty Island on the west, and linked to the Ernakulam mainland via the new Goshree bridges. It is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) in length in the north-south direction and hosts a population of 10,000 people. Vallarpadam is about one kilometer (½ mile) away from the Ernakulam mainland.

History
A short history the magnificent and miraculous picture of Mary and Infant Jesus, installed at the top of the main altar of the Vallarpadam Church, was brought by Portuguese merchants under the leadership of Vasco Da Gama in 1524. In 1676 the old Church, which was known as the Church of the Holy Spirit, founded by the Portuguese missionaries, was destroyed by the heavy flood and the picture of Our Lady was found floating in the backwaters. Nobody except Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Prime Minister of Maharaja of Cochin, could recover it. The beautiful church at Vallarpadam which you see now is built on the land which was donated by Paliyath Raman Valiyachan. He is gratefully remembered in Vallarpadathamma and his generosity towards the church, by lighting the Sanctuary lamp, which he himself donated and which has been burning day and night from 1676 onwards.
In May 1752, there occurred a great miracle which made Vallarpadam a famous Pilgrim Centre. In Vallarpadam there was a young Nair Lady named Meenakshiyamma, who was a member of a noble family called Palliyilveedu. Together with her son, she was going to Mattancherry in a non-mechanised boat. There arose a storm and the boat capsized. Meenakshiyamma and her son went deep down into the backwater. While they were in danger Meenakshiyamma promised Vallarpadathamma that if they were rescued by her they would be her Adimas (servants) until their death. On the third day, as per instructions in a dream, the parish priest asked the fishermen to cast net in the river, and Meenakshiyamma and her son were rescued. This incident is depicted in the picture mentioned above. From that day onwards, people, especially those who travel by boats and ships, come to Vallarpadam and pray for their safe journey. Meenakshiyamma and her son received baptism and became Christians and were named Mary and Jesudas respectively. They were living in the Churchyard itself adoring the Lord and thanking Our Lady and proclaiming the “good news” to all those who came here. Her family is still living, which is quite near to the church. Due to its spiritual importance, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII elevated its main altar to the status of Altare Privilegiatum in Perpetuum Concessum in 1888.
Feast
The Feast of Vallarpadathamma is celebrated from 16 to 24 September every year. Pilgrims, thousand in number, come to Vallarpadam to participate in the Feast, especially on 24 September.

A local football match in progress

abrachan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:50:09 +0000

Can we be really happy by ignoring it?

abrachan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:34:51 +0000

When I look from the seventh floor apartment of mine at Kochi city, this is what I am seeing every day, through one side of the apartment…the sight of the not so privileged. On one side we are busy with the glitter of the city, where as on the other side it is gutter. Kochi’s streets are crowded with BMWs, Audis, Range Rovers. To my surprise I could spot the new show room of Porche (I think I got the spelling right:-) and at the same time when I get into the by lanes of the city, then like many other cities I can see the slums, people sleeping on the shop verandas, the overflowing gutters, the street children, heaps of garbages….Can we be happy just by ignoring it?.

It is Christmas time again at Varapuzha!

abrachan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:15:50 +0000

Yes, it is Christmas time again at Varapuzha. It is very visible. The houses are getting painted. The shops are decorated. The christmas stars are hung. Holidays are planned. Churches are decorated. Ready made christmas cribs are piled up infront of the shops. Cakes are getting ready. People are readying themselves for christmas celebrations. The child in me is awakened again. The aura of christmas is setting in…surely.

Congratulations Chandan Shenoy !

abrachan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:06:07 +0000

Chandan Shenoy from Varapuzha, receiving the award

Chandan Shenoy is the grand son of The Shenoy who ran the Kanchana Medicals at Varapuzha.

Take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Chandan Shenoy and wish him many more successes in the future.

Shame less Indians !

abrachan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:57:58 +0000

we dont accept Indian rupees - Cochin International Airport

Each time I visit the duty free at cochin international airport, I get hurt (may be becuase I take pride in being an Indian). In cochin international airport (CIAL) airport alone Indian currency is not accepted. They accept all other currencies. When I asked about this, they put the blame on customs. When I spoke to the customs guy standing there, he said there is no such instruction given by them. Can you imagine about an American duty free shop, where USD is not accepted. Can you think of a Dubai duty free where Dhirhams are not accepted?.

Oh! shameless Indian, at last apart from me, it took a foregner to quetion this injustice….and we are celebrating. What a Shame !.

If you want to join hands with me, in fighting this injustice, please share your views….

Tilting the Indian Table

abrachan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:51:09 +0000

Tilting the Indian table

At last, Indian media is getting better and more credible day by day, by fearless reporting. This can be attributed to the professionalism in the media with the arrival of CNN-IBN, NDTV which are beyond the reach of politicians. It was very evident…and still evident …post Mumbai terror attacks. The result, One central minister and a chief minister lost their positions. Rahul Gandhi was criticised for attending a party during the eve of the terrorist attacks, The chief minister of Kerala saying Sorry, The army and the para military forces becoming heros overnight , the upraisal partriotism in the Indian mind and the anger against the corrupt politicians, police…. ….lot of such incidents suceeded the recent Mumbai terror attacks. Thanks to the media for their fearless non stop coverage of the events, un biased.

In one of my earler posts, I had post saying “Indians are at their best when challenged”. India would not have got independence from the British, if Gandhiji was not challenged by a white skin by throwing him out of the railway compartment because he was not white skinned, despite having a valid ticket. Similarly, India would not have won the cricket series in Australia, if Australians did not abuse Indians (sledging). Going by these events, this Mumbai terror attacks is a blow to the pride of every Indian, and I am very optimistic about the repurcussions of this.
The Indian psyche based of ahimtsa can forget and forgive very easily. That is the only risk. Media can play a major role for not allowing this hurt to the Indian pride to subside and if it channelise the unrest of the common man in the appropriate direction, we will have a zero corrupt India …soon.

Yummy biriyani at Kayees !

abrachan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:44:12 +0000

Yummy Biriyani

Are you at Kochi?. Want to have some really goof Biriyani?…. Then visit Kayees, opposite to Durbar hall ground. They serve very good biriyani and another advantage is the amble parking area !