Maramon Convention to be held from Feb 9 to 16

By Sachin Jose

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Mar Thoma Evangelical Association (MTEA) has made preparations for the 119th Maramon Convention to be held here in Kozhencherry from Feb 9 to 16.

    It is Asia's largest Christian convention, traditionally held near Kozhecherry Bridge in Maramon on the Pampa riverbed, which dries up at the beginning of every year.

    Organiser Fr Sam T Mathew said, "To commemorate the 125th anniversary of MTEA this year, we are setting up separate stalls and exhibitions to illustrate the history of Mar Thoma Church."

    The first convention was held in 1895, following the revival movement pioneered by priest Abraham Malpan, leading to a schism in the traditional church establishment.

    Regarding preparations, MTEA General Secretary Fr Abraham P Oommen said, "The local parishes under the Mar Thoma Syrian Church contribute to the materials including coconut fronds to construct the panthal (large thatched tent). It can accommodate one lakh people."

     "Also, separate stalls have been built for various organisations under the Church," added Fr Oommen, "The work on three temporary bridges linking the convention venue with the western bank of the river has also been completed."

     Moreover, evangelists including Anglican Church Bishop Peter Maiden from UK, Methodist Church Bishop Viani Nybola from South Africa, Church of Ceylon Bishop Dilip D Chikkera from Sri Lanka are invited to deliver speech.

     A makeshift dispensary and two police aid posts will be set up near the convention centre. The KSRTC will provide buses from Pathanamthitta depot and operate special services from Thiruvalla, Mallappally, Pandalam, Chengannur, Adoor and Ranni during the week-long convention.

Major projects of Sabarimala Master Plan still pending

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: Though three-fourth of Sabarimala Master Plan projects have been completed prior to this Mandalam season, some of the major projects are yet to become real owing to red-tape and disagreement among government departments.

   Sabarimala Master Plan consists of projects for the development of Sannidhanam encompassing religious, infrastructural and environmental aspects.

   However, authorities in the High Power Committee for implementing Sabarimala Master Plan assured the remaining projects will be completed within next Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season.

   Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President MP Govindan Nair said, “We expect to complete the three annadana Halls worth Rs 3 crore within this Mandalakalam while the Rs 26-crore Valiyanadapanthal to regulate queue system by the next. However, the cost of these projects has not overrun."

    "Also, tender has been called for a rope-way meant to ease cargo movement for temple needs and construction purposes," Mr Nair said. "Meanwhile, the floor of Nilakkal parking yard, which has a capacity for 1,000 vehicles, has been levelled and will be paved soon."

    However, some of the projects were inaugurated last week like the 45-metre-long, 7-metre-wide underpass here at Marakkoottom, which is constructed to control crowd at the junction of Swamy Ayyappan Road and Chandranandan Road. Ostensibly, the construction of the underpass was lagging due to conflict of interest between the Devaswom and Forest Departments.

    According to the Sabarimala Master Plan, there is limited space to accommodate the surge of pilgrims as the temple is located within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

    However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had reportedly said that projects under Sabarimala Master Plan would not be interrupted and insisted that any appeal against these projects would be redressed only through the Chief Minister's Office.

   The project envisages infrastructure development as well as ecological sustainability. “Our aim is to develop this region into a plastic-free township,” he added.

    Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Sangam President Swamy Ayyappadas said, “The preparations by Travancore Devaswom Board and the High Power Committee are satisfactory this year compared to those before. We also expect them to finish the remaining projects as soon as possible.”