THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The annual Kurisumala pilgrimage at Vellarada here will be held from March 9 to March 13 and on March 24 and 25. The theme of this year’s pilgrimage is ‘Holy Cross a symbol of mercy’.
On the inaugural day, Speaker N Sakthan, Health and Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, Water Resources Minister P J Joseph, MPs Shashi Tharoor MP and T N Seema MP will address the various meetings as part of the pilgrimage.
The hilltop shrine under the Latin Catholic diocese of Neyyattinkara is visited by around 35 lakh pilgrims every year. The organisers said that elaborate arrangements had been made for the safety and comfort of pilgrims. The 300-member organising committee includes pilgrim centre’s patron Rev Vincent Samuel, co-patron Rev G Christudas and director Rev Vincent K Peter.Special bus services will be run from all bus depots in Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari to Kurishumala on all days of the pilgrimage season. The state government will provide free medical treatment in the streams of ayurveda, homoeopathy and allopathy.Free emergency medical assistance will be provided by private hospitals. Personnel of the police, excise, revenue and food safety departments will be deployed at the hill shrine and on the trekking route.
“On the concluding day of the pilgrimage season, the diamond jubilee celebration of the shrine will be announced. An action plan for the celebrations will also be released,” Rev Vincent K Peter said.